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Mirpur: Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma’s injuries might be giving the team management some jitters but India will still be firm favourites when they take on a depleted and struggling Sri Lanka in their penultimate league encounter of the Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament on Tuesday. (Sabbir Rahman Helps Bangladesh Stun Sri Lanka)
Despite injuries, India have the edge against the Lankan, who they beat 2-1 in a recent home series. (Rohit Sharma Undergoes X-Ray After Being Hit on Toe)
Sri Lanka’s captain and primary strike bowler Lasith Malinga, whose knee problem has again flared up, is a doubt for the rest of the tournament. (Kohli Fined For Showing Dissent at Umpire’s Decision)
“I don’t know if Lasith will be available in the next two games as it is a fitness related issue. His injury has again flared up,” stand-in captain Angelo Mathews said after their loss against Bangladesh.
More than the challenge posed by defending World T20 champions, the Indian team will like to set their house in order as far injuries are concerned.
Skipper Dhoni is playing through pain due to the back spasms, which has prevented him from taking part in most of the training sessions.
If that wasn’t enough, Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out before the last game against Pakistan, reportedly with a niggle in his left ankle.
If Dhawan’s injury wasn’t enough, the latest blow to the Indian team has been Rohit Sharma getting hit on the left toe by a crushing yorker from Mohammed Amir in the game against Pakistan.
According to information, a precautionary X-ray has been done and luckily for the Indian batsman no fracture has been detected.
But with both openers being injured, it does put a question-mark on the playing XI, which has been more or less same in the last eight T20 games.
For the record, India have won seven out of the eight games they have played this year.
After the Pakistan game, the possibility of a new opening combination cannot be totally ruled out. It could well be Parthiv Patel walking alongside Rahane, in case both Rohit and Shikhar are ruled out of the Lanka tie.
Source: NDTV