Ahead of the Asia Cup final, India have been left anxious as their star all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s fitness is under concern and his participation in the IND vs PAK clash is uncertain.
For the first time in the history of the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan will meet in the final. India beat Pakistan in their two previous encounters in this tournament, but a final will bring its own higher pressure and jeopardy.
Both teams have failed to put in convincingly dominant performances in their respective last Super 4 games. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by only 11 runs, while India and Sri Lanka produced the most thrilling and closest contest of the tournament, as their game was decided in the Super Over.
India had rested Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube from the match against Sri Lanka. But it now seems that it would have been wise to give a rest to their premier all-rounder, Pandya, as well.
As he’s done throughout the tournament, Pandya bowled the first over against Sri Lanka, in which he dismissed opener Kusal Mendis for a duck. However, he soon left the field and didn’t return to bowl, finishing his match with just a solitary over.
Suryakumar Yadav clearly missed Pandya’s experienced services with the ball, as Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel all were smacked around by Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera. Pandya’s absence from the field even forced Suryakumar to bowl Axar the 18th over. Thankfully for India, Axar didn’t concede more than 10 runs in that over.
IND vs PAK Asia Cup final: Bowling coach Morne Morkel gives update on Hardik Pandya’s fitness
Concerns have been raised over Hardik’s fitness for the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, as he bowled only one over against Sri Lanka and left the field, holding his left hamstring, and didn’t return for the rest of Sri Lanka’s innings.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel has confirmed that Hardik suffered cramps in his left hamstring while bowling against Sri Lanka. Morkel remained coy on Hardik’s fitness and said a call on his participation in the final against Pakistan will be made on the match day itself.
“Hardik had cramps, he will be assessed tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll then take a call on that,” Morkel said in the post-match press conference after India’s Super Over victory against Sri Lanka.
India opener Abhishek Sharma also spent the latter half of Sri Lanka’s innings away from the field. While fielding in the 9th over, Abhishek was observed in discomfort as he clutched his right leg.
Abhishek was seen sitting on the bench for the last 10 overs of Sri Lanka’s innings, getting treatment and chatting with the team physio. Sharma also didn’t come to bat during the Super Over.
Morkel, though, assured that “Abhishek is fine” and has no major injury issues, and it was just cramps.\
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