After India’s disappointing 6-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Tuesday (September 6) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, their prospects of making the Asia Cup 2022 final were all but over. However, the Rohit Sharma-led team has a slight possibility of placing in the top two of this round’s points table if the outcomes of the remaining Super Four matches go in their favor. Let’s see how India can still secure a place in the Asia Cup 2022 final.
The way India can reach the Asia Cup Cricket 2022 final
The Indian team, first and foremost, has to win their last fixture of the Super Four Round against Afghanistan on Thursday. In fact, India must win by a large margin in order to surpass both Pakistan and Afghanistan in the net run rate equation. However, winning big against Afghanistan’s side will also not guarantee their place in the championship match. There are other factors which need to come into their way.
India’s remaining Super Four Round fixture
Date: September 8 | Opposition: Afghanistan | Venue: DICS (Dubai) | Start Time: 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)
The following results will assist India’s chances of securing a place in the championship match:
1) Afghanistan have to beat Pakistan by a narrow margin on Wednesday
2) India have to beat Afghanistan by a huge margin on Thursday
3) Sri Lanka have to beat Pakistan by a big margin on Friday
India still have a mathematical (net run rate) chance to make the final if all of these equations go in their favour.
Asia Cup 2022 Super Four Round current points table (as on September 6)
India vs Afghanistan, Super Four Round: Five Indian Players to Watch
The Indian cricketers’ performances in the last two fixtures were underwhelming. In other words, they failed to live up to the expectations. Both Pakistani and Sri Lankan players outperformed the Indian cricketers and subsequently overcame them in their respective matches.
India still have a chance to finish in the top two in the points table if Pakistan lose their remaining fixtures. Therefore, Indian players have to raise their performance level in the final fixture against Afghanistan on September 8.
Here are five Indian cricketers and their Asia Cup 2022 records who can make a difference for the team
Virat Kohli
Inn: 3 | Runs: 154 | HS: 60 | SR: 122.22 | 50s: 2
Rohit Sharma
Inn: 3 | Runs: 133 | HS: 72 | SR: 151.13 | 50s: 1
Read Pakistan one win away from securing final in Asia Cup 2022
Hardik Pandya
Inn: 3 | Runs: 50 | HS: 33* | SR: 156.25 | Wkts: 4 | BBI: 3/25 | Econ: 8.66
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Inn: 4 | Wkts: 6 | BBI: 4/26 | Econ: 7.40
Yuzvendra Chahal
Inn: 4 | Wkts: 4 | BBI: 3/34 | Econ: 7.93
Aftermath
India presently hold the third position in the Super Four Round points table despite having lost both of its games. The possibility that the reigning champions will advance all the way to the final game depends on ifs and buts. If the other outcomes go their way, India may yet reach the Asia Cup 2022 final.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan vs Afghanistan match live streaming details
However, the most successful team in the tournament’s history is unlikely to participate in the 15th edition of the Asia Cup cricket final. In addition, with Sri Lanka’s victory over India on Tuesday, the possibility of an India vs Pakistan final is no longer a possibility.
Source: United News of Bangladesh