India emerged as deserving Asia Cup champions, says Mahela Jayawardene

09/30/2018

Mahela Jayawardene has stated that the Indian team were already favourites while entering the Asia Cup and were deserving winners of the title. The Indian team clinched the Asia Cup title for the seventh time after defeating Bangladesh at Dubai International Stadium on September 28.

Bangladesh was able to procure 222 runs, batting first. On the other hand, Bangladesh bowlers gave a remarkable performance, forbidding any Indian batsmen to cross the 50-run mark. However, Indian squad was able to secure their victory on the last ball, with three wickets to spare. Mahela Jayawardene felt that India were favourites going in the Asia Cup and were deserving winners. Having said that, he added Bangladesh fought tooth and nail against India, providing the winners a stiff competition as per him.

“India were the favourites, and they emerged as deserving Asia Cup victors, but it was far closer than many had expected. Bangladesh, missing their two premier players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, battled right to the end and can return to Dhaka with their heads held high, although they will surely feel a sense of deep disappointment that such a rollicking start was wasted,” Jayawardene wrote in his column for TOI.

Bangladesh tried as many as four opening pair in the tournament and according to Jayawardene, the decision to elevate Mehdi Hasan to the position of an opener was a wise decision taken by the national side. However, he felt that Bangladesh could have achieved a bigger target, given their concrete start in the innings.

“Bangladesh's tactical gamble at the start, thrusting up off-spinner Mehidy Hasan to open the innings for the first time in his career, proved to be a masterstroke and for the first 90 minutes of the final India were on the backfoot. India, however, have strength in depth and are the most balanced ODI side in Asia. They were also missing their premier batsman, Virat Kohli, but these days they can rotate players with confidence because the talent cupboard is full,” he wrote.

"Bangladesh should have scored in excess of 260 but the middle order capitulated with a series of loose strokes and India's bowlers pounced on the opportunity. The fact that Bangladesh kept fighting right to the end, chiseling out regular wickets and pushing the game to the very last ball of the innings, shows the spirit of the team under new coach Steve Rhodes. India will return home very pleased with how things turned out,” Jayawardene added.

India emerged as deserving Asia Cup champions, says Mahela Jayawardene

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