Asia Cup final IND vs SL Playing 11: Sundar in for Axar in India's XI

Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya have returned to India's Playing 11

BS Web Team New Delhi

India vs Sri Lanka. Photo: X

11:00 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Who will win today's match

10:39 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Sundar in for Axar in Indian squad

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday confirmed allrounder Washington Sundar as the replacement for injured Axar Patel ahead of the Asia Cup final.

Axar got ruled out of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka due to a left quadriceps strain which he sustained during India's Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday.

BCCI released an official statement to announce the replacement which read, "Axar Patel has been ruled out of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka due to a left quadriceps strain sustained during India's Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday. The Men's Selection Committee has named Washington Sundar as a replacement. The all-rounder arrived in Colombo this evening and has joined the squad."

Axar has played in two matches during the tournament so far, having scored 68 runs at an average of 34.00, with the best score of 42 against Bangladesh, which went in vain during a run-chase of 266 runs. He has also taken a wicket.

Washington Sundar replaces Axar Patel in India's squad for Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka on September 17, 2023.

10:22 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Shubman Gill importance in summit clash

De Villiers praised young India opener Shubman Gill, who has been on a roll at the Asia Cup alongside his opening partner and skipper Rohit.

"Very interestingly, he (Rohit) has had an incredible partnership with Shubman Gill. Two fighters at the crease is always a dangerous thing for the opposition.

"As an opening pair, they are averaging 87-odd (95) with a strike rate of 110. If they can do that for India in the World Cup...," he said.

Gill is the second-highest run-scorer for India in the tournament, amassing 154 runs in four innings at an average of 51.33, including a couple of fifties and a top knock of an unbeaten 67.

Shubman Gill hits century against Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2023. Photo: BCCI

10:19 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Will Rohit end century drought today?

Rohit is the sixth Indian to enter the 10,000 ODI runs club after Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid. He is also the second-fastest to do so after former skipper and current teammate Kohli.

De Villiers also recollected how Rohit took on fierce South African pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel during a Durban Test.

"I think of a Test match in Durban where he just wouldn't stand back to Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel or any of our fast bowlers. He would make eye contact," he said.

"If anyone chirped him, he would be right in their face, chest out. I always liked that."

9:50 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Rohit Sharma gets a big from ABD

Despite facing criticism since he took the baton of Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma has been providing brisk start at the top of the order. However, he has failed to score the daddy hundreds.

Amidst all these, Rohit draws heaps of praise from South African great AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers highlighted how Rohit began slowly in the ODIs before becoming the fastest to gain 10,000 runs in the format.

"Rohit was fourth slowest to 2,000 runs, but the second fastest to 10,000. How's that for a comeback? I have a lot of respect for him," he said.

"The first time I watched him play, I thought this guy has got something special to offer. What I like most about him - from a very young age, he's always had a fighting spirit. He would not back down to anyone."

Rohit Sharma

9:29 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Colombo weather forecast

9:17 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: All eyes of Kohli once again, here's why

'Virat Kohli's form augurs well for India': Rajkumar Sharma ahead of India's Asia Cup final clash against Sri Lanka

Ahead of the Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday, Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma said that the former India skipper's recent form augurs well for Men in Blue and added if the talisman batter is not scoring centuries that does not mean that he is out of form.

Once again, India's batting talisman Kohli demonstrated his mettle in the cricket world by becoming the fastest batter to score 13,000 runs in the ODI format.

During his outstanding knock against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, Kohli completed 13,000 ODI runs, becoming the fifth player to reach the landmark in men's ODIs.

Rajkumar empathises that if the star batter is not scoring centuries that does not mean that he is out of form.

"Kohli is already in great form in the year 2023. There was a phase when he was not scoring big runs. It was not like he was out of form. He was scoring but the kind of expectations he carries that people thought that he is not in form. If he is not scoring centuries that does not mean that he is out of form but fortunately now he is playing well. His form augurs well for India," Rajkumar Sharma told ANI.

Virat Kohli hits 47th ODI century and becomes fastest to reach 13000 ODI runs. Photo: BCCI

9:04 AM

Asia Cup 2023 final, India vs Sri Lanka LIVE: India's Playing 11 combination

Indian cricket team are set to make atleast 4 changes in their Playing XI for final vs Sri Lanka today.

Senior batter Virat Kohli, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, spinner Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Jasprit Bumrah are set to return to India's Playing 11.