Asia Cup 2022: IND vs SL- Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs India (Predicted), Super 4, Match 3 (A1 vs B1)

Asia Cup 2022: IND vs SL- Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs India (Predicted), Super 4, Match 3 (A1 vs B1). Sri Lanka will take on India on September 6 in the super 4 stages. Both teams have fought very hard to get to this position. India has proved that they are still the best performing team in international tournaments by beating their arch-rival Pakistan in their first match.

Then they got qualified into the super 4 stages after defeating Hong Kong and now they have come to the most crucial stage where they should give their best to move up to the finals.

On the other hand, the Sri Lankan team began their match with a loss to the mighty Afghanistan team but somehow they managed to get into the super 4 stages by defeating Bangladesh. Still, they have a lot of work to do if they want to beat India in the Super 4 stages.

Sri Lanka pulled off a major upset, beating Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the Super 4 opener. With that, Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka also avenged their humiliating loss in the Asia Cup 2022 opener. Rahmanullah Gurbaz helped Afghanistan post 175/5 but impactful innings from Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa helped them chase the target with 5 balls to spare.

Kusal Mendis smashed 19-ball 36 to set the tone of the match. After the 62-run opening stand, Sri Lanka never had a great partnership but there were small impactful performances throughout. Pathum Nissanka (35 off 28), Dannushka Gunathilaka (33 off 20) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14) besides Wanindu Hasaranga (16 off 9) all contributed well.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan: 175 for 6 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84, Ibrahim Zadran 40; Dilshan Madushanka 2/37). lost to Sri Lanka: 179 for 6 in 19.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 36, Pathum Nissanka 35, Danushka Gunathilaka 33; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/30, Naveen-ul-Haq 2/40).

A notable inclusion in the squad is Ashen Bandara, who last represented Sri Lanka in July 2021 in a T20I against India. Also returning to the T20I mix are the experienced duo of Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, and Jeffrey Vandersay, all of whom missed Sri Lanka’s last T20I series against Australia at home in June which the visitors won by a 2-1 margin. Sri Lanka is expected to retain their playing XI that played against Afghanistan.

Asia Cup 2022: IND vs SL- Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs India (Predicted), Super 4, Match 3 (A1 vs B1)

Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis is arguably the most talented batter in the Sri Lankan playing XI and will be crucial for their chances in the Asia Cup 2022. The 27-year-old elegant batter is a vital cog in the Sri Lanka batting lineup. He has scored 779 runs in 38 T20I innings averaging 21.05 with 7 fifties.

He scored only 2 off 4 balls against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 opening fixture before being the 1st wicket to fall after being a victim of MOM Fazalhaq Farooqi. He scored a vital 60 off 37 balls against Bangladesh to see Sri Lanka scrape through to the Super 4 in their last Asia Cup 2022 group game. He top-scored for the islanders against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka’s first Super 4 match scoring 36 from only 19 balls at a Strike Rate of 189.47.

Pathum Nissanka

Sri Lanka’s right-hand opening batter Pathum Nissanka is just one year into his international career but has already showcased his talent with some memorable innings, especially in white-ball cricket. The 24-year-old did not perform up to his usual high standard in the T20I series against World Champions Australia in June but made amends in the ODI series that followed.

He registered two 50+ scores in the five-match series, including a match-winning ton in the third ODI. In 26 T20Is, he has scored 686 runs averaging 27.44. He scored only 3 off 7 balls before edging one off Naveen-ul-Haq against Afghanistan before scoring 20 off 29 against Bangladesh in their last Asia Cup 2022 group league game, before being dismissed by debutant Ebadot Hossain. He scored 35 off 28 balls against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka’s first Super 4 game.

Charith Asalanka

Charith Asalanka is another young Sri Lankan batter who has made great strides in white-ball cricket since making his debut for the national team in ODIs in June last year. In 23 T20Is, he has scored 530 runs averaging 25.24.

He was out for a first-ball duck being lbw off Fazalhaq Farooqi of Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 opener. He scored only 1 against Bangladesh before being dismissed by debutant pacer Ebadot Hossain. He failed again against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game, scoring 8 of 14 balls.

He may be replaced by Dinesh Chandimal against India. Dinesh Chandimal, who missed the team’s last T20I assignment – a home series against Australia in June-July is in Asia Cup 2022 squad. Dinesh Chandimal’s last T20I outing came against India in February this year. The keeper has amassed 1062 runs averaging 19.67 in 68 T20Is.

The southpaw is an instinctive batter and is known for his positive intent at the crease. He was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic ODI series triumph against the might Australians in June earlier this year, as his tremendous century in the fourth ODI sealed a memorable series victory for the hosts.

Danushka Gunathilaka

Danushka Gunathilaka, who has amassed 739 runs in 42 T20Is averaging 18.02, scored a run-a-ball 17 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022 opening fixture. Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed him. He scored 11 off 6 balls but was dismissed by Bangladesh’s debutant pacer Ebadot Hossain in the 2nd and final group league match. He scored 33 off 20 balls including 2 fours and as many sixes against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Bhanuka Rajapaksa showcased his six-hitting abilities in the 2022 edition of the IPL, featuring for the Punjab Kings as a pinch hitter in the middle overs. He was given the license to have a go at the bowlers, something that comes naturally to the batter.

Unfortunately, the 30-year-old has failed to transcend his batting prowess from the domestic leagues to the international level as he had a miserable run with the bat in the T20I series against Australia, failing to even breach the 20-run mark in three outings. He scored 30 runs in 3 innings averaging a mere 10 against the 2021 T20I World Cup Winner Australia in the previous bilateral assignment.

In 24 T20Is, he has amassed 421 runs averaging 23.39.  He top-scored with 38 off 29 balls before being run out against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 opener. However, he could score only 2 against Bangladesh off 4 balls before Taskin Ahmed dismissed him. He scored 31 off 14 balls against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game.

Dasun Shanaka

Dasun Shanaka started as an all-rounder for the Sri Lankan team but has played purely as a batter in the last six months, especially in T20Is. His presence at the crease has inspired the team to some incredible victories recently.

In 71 T20Is, he has amassed 1070 runs averaging 20.58 and has also picked 18 scalps averaging 25.22. He scored a first-ball duck against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022 opener before being dismissed by Mohammad Nabi.

He also didn’t bowl in that match. Against Bangladesh, he scored a vital 45 off 33 balls which was instrumental in Sri Lanka beating the spirited Asian team and progressing to the Super 4. He scored 10 off 9 balls and promoted himself up the batting order against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game. He was expensive with the ball conceding 22 runs in 2 wicketless overs.

Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga was the leading wicket-taker in T20Is in 2021 and continued his sensational form in IPL 2022 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scalping a total of 26 wickets, just one short of the Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal.

In only 41 T20Is, he has picked 65 scalps averaging a phenomenal 14.77. Wanindu Hasaranga picked Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s scalp and was the only Sri Lankan player to pick a wicket against Afghanistan. He was economical too, returning with figures of 1/19 off 3 overs. Against Bangladesh, he picked 2/41 dismissing Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game, he was wicketess and returned with figures of 0/23 in 4 overs. But he scored an unbeaten 16 off 9 balls including 3 fours which was vital in seeing Sri Lanka win by 4 wickets against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 Asia Cup 2022 game.

 Chamika Karunaratne

Chamika Karunaratne, the right-arm pacer has featured in 28 T20Is for the islanders and has had a poor return of just 13 wickets averaging 45.69. He will have more responsibility on his shoulders as pace bowling partner Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of Asia Cup 2022 due to injury.

He conceded 20 runs off the solitary over he bowled and scored 31 off 38 balls before being bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi in the Asia Cup 2022 Cup opener against Afghanistan. He was run out after scoring 16 and picked 2/32 against Bangladesh, picking up scalps of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahedi Hasan.

Although the 26-year-old has failed to dismiss batters consistently, he has done relatively well in the middle overs, stifling the flow of runs. His variations are also going to be key at the pitches in UAE. He was too expensive against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game conceding 29 runs in 2 overs. He scored the winning runs-hitting a boundary off Fazalhaq Farooqi to stay unbeaten on 5.

Maheesh Theekshana

Maheesh Theekshana, the 22-year-old’s action, and bowling style are a bit similar to Indian bowling ace Ravichandran Ashwin, and he often uses the carrom ball to deceive the batters, a trademark delivery of Ravichandran Ashwin. His partnership with Wanindu Hasaranga will be crucial for Sri Lanka in the middle overs. Maheesh Theekshana has picked up 18 scalps averaging 29.17 in 21 T20Is.

He was run out without facing a ball against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 opener. He affected the run-out of Ibrahim Zadran and conceded 35 runs in 4 wicketless overs. He picked Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s scalp returning with figures of 1/23 in 4 overs. He returned with figures of 1/29 in 4 overs against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 game.

Dilshan Madushanaka

The 21-year-old left-arm seamer, Dilshan Madushanka, has also found a place in the Asia Cup 2022 squad. He debuted with Matheesha Pathirana in the Asia Cup 2022 match against Afghanistan and bowled an over where he conceded 10 runs. Against Bangladesh, he returned with figures of 1/26, picking Afif Hossain’s scalp. He picked the most wickets against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 first fixture-returning with figures of 2/37.

Asitha Fernando

Asitha Fernando picked 1 scalp of Bangladesh’s Sabbir Rahman but was expensive, returning with figures of 1/51, replacing Matheesha Pathirana, who was too costly in his debut T20I (0/16 in 1 over). Sri Lanka lost their way in the middle innings, but Asitha Fernando turned out to be an unlikely hero as he scored 10 off just 3 balls to help his team pull off the highest-ever chase in UAE.

It was his debut T20I although he has played 7 Tests and 4 ODIs since debuting in 2017 in the ODIs. He picked 1 wicket conceding 34 runs against Afghanistan in the first Super 4 fixture. It was the wicket of MOM and Asia Cup 2022 leading run scorer Afghanistan keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.