IND vs SL: Matthew Hayden Believes Shubman Gill Will Be Crucial For India In Asia Cup 2023 Final Against Sri Lanka

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden feels that young opener Shubman Gill will be a crucial player for India in the Asia Cup 2023 final. Matthew Hayden highlighted Shubman Gill’s brilliant knock against Bangladesh in their last Super Four match in the tournament.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will face the Dasun Shanaka-led team in the Asia Cup final at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, September 17. The Men in Blue registered a convincing 41-run victory in their previous Super Four encounter against Sri Lanka.

India Were In A Spot Of Bother – Matthew Hayden

Speaking to Star Sports, Matthew Hayden pointed out that Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma’s contributions at the top will be crucial for India’s chances to win the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023.

“Shubman’s batting during the match in circumstances where India were in a spot of bother in that first powerplay, similar to Bangladesh as well. And the fact that on 43 occasions, 265 plus runs chased down has only been achieved in five matches,” Hayden told Star Sports.

“You know that’s little over 10% of the time where you have an opportunity to win these games. So having a mainstay with Shubman Gill at the crease, was the key,” he added.

“With the bat, I think it’s a very obvious choice, Shubman Gill’s class, his timing, his form, it’s very important at the top of the order with a healthy strike rate, I think that partnership with the Hitman is very key. So both these characters with bat and ball are needed at the World Cup.”

Shubman Gill scored 121 off 133 deliveries against Bangladesh’s four-man spin attack on a challenging pitch in Colombo. The right-handed batter managed to hit eight fours and five sixes. However, his innings went in vain, as India suffered a six-run defeat.

India’s Performance With The Ball Lacked That Intensity – Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden opened up about India’s bowling performance against Bangladesh, saying that the absence of key players had an impact. Hayden emphasized that Jasprit Bumrah’s return would boost India’s bowling attack in the World Cup.

“There has to be that extra motivation there, and when it is not there, that extra stimulus, even the crowd, that sense of occasion, coming off a fantastic tournament thus far, it’s just hard to replicate that intensity, and I felt that India’s performance with the ball lacked that intensity.”

“Look, India’s bowling in particular, and we have seen it in the back 20 overs of the game with 4 wickets remaining, you know they just seemed to bleed runs. So Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback with the ball is such a key part of the World Cup campaign for Team India as they head into that.”

The team rested Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj, giving Suryakumar Yadav In their most recent game, Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna represented the team for the first time in the Asia Cup 2023.

Also read: IND vs SL: “Winning The Final Is Very Important For Us Because…” – Shubman Gill Says Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023 Final