The 2023 Asia Cup final is upon us, and Colombo finds itself under the shadow of unpredictable rain clouds as cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the clash between India and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has undeniably been one of the standout teams in this tournament, defying the odds despite missing key members of their frontline bowling attack. Their spirited blend of young bowlers and seasoned part-timers has proven to be a formidable challenge for opposing teams. Notably, Kusal Mendis has consistently delivered with the bat. However, their sole defeat in their last 15 ODIs came at the hands of India, who appear as strong as ever. India’s previous game ended in a defeat to Bangladesh, but it’s important to note that many of their star players were rested. The return of stalwarts like Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, along with the top-class performances of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, has bolstered India’s confidence.

In the last encounter between these two sides, Sri Lanka successfully rattled India’s top order, leaving a thrilling contest on the cards.

Both teams have been dealt injury blows leading up to the final. India will be without Axar Patel, possibly for the upcoming series against Australia, as Washington Sundar steps in as cover. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has lost their key spinner, Mahesh Theekshana, for the remainder of this tournament. However, Sri Lanka remains hopeful of Theekshana’s return for the World Cup next month. Sundar’s inclusion in the Indian second-string squad for the Asian Games next month makes it unlikely for him to join the World Cup squad.

This final, and the entire tournament for that matter, is being played in the context of the looming World Cup next month. Both teams aim to provide their players with valuable match time in intense situations while being cautious about potential injuries, as seen with Theekshana for Sri Lanka and Naseem Shah for Pakistan. India, fortunately, has been relatively injury-free in this tournament, with key players like Bumrah and Rahul making impactful returns. However, there may still be nerves as India’s only multi-team tournament victories in the past decade since their Champions Trophy win in 2013 have been in the Asia Cup. Their last Asia Cup triumph was in 2018. With Rohit Sharma’s squad eyeing a World Cup win on home soil next month, this final serves as a simulation of the pressure they might face in crucial knockout matches.

Here are a few key highlights about the 2023 Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka:

  1. India and Sri Lanka have clashed 166 times in ODIs.
  2. India has won 97 of those matches, while Sri Lanka has secured 57 victories. There have been 11 no-results, and one match ended in a tie.
  3. In the Asia Cup, the two sides have squared off in 20 ODI matches, with both teams claiming an equal number of victories.
  4. India defeated Sri Lanka by 41 runs in their previous encounter during the Super 4 stage of this tournament.
  5. Weather forecasts predict the possibility of rains and thunderstorms later in the day in Colombo, which could result in delays during the final match.