Sanjay Bangar: I think India has a strong and complete bowling line-up going into the World Cup

Hardik Pandya has gained prominence as India’s top all-rounder in recent years while according to former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, the colorful Baroda batsman gives the team a lot of balance and will be an important player in the World Cup and Colombo will host the Asia Cup 2023 final game.

The Asia Cup 2023 final will be played on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka qualified for the final after finishing in second spot, with 4 points and an NRR of -0.141, while the Rohit Sharma-led finished at the top spot in the Super 4 table with 4 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.753. 

Sri Lanka stunned Pakistan with a two-wicket victory (DLS method) to set up a summit clash with the seven-time Asia Cup champions, the most successful team in tournament history, while India suffered a shocking six-run loss to Bangladesh in their last game of the Super 4 stage.

Hardik Pandya has gained prominence as India’s top all-rounder in recent years. According to former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, the colorful Baroda batsman gives the team a lot of balance and will be an important player in the World Cup. 

After being rested for the Super Four game against Bangladesh, Pandya will play again in the Asia Cup final on Sunday against Sri Lanka. Colombo will host the Asia Cup 2023 final game.

“He has matured a lot over the years. He had some setbacks in terms of his fitness but he has now worked hard to reach where he is now. He has shouldered the responsibilities very well and is captaining India in T20s. He gives a lot of balance to the team being an all-rounder,”

Bangar, who is Colombo as the ‘Star Sports’ expert, told PTI.

Pandya will also have to shoulder the responsibility of the third seamer behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, which Bangar said will give India’s attack a complete look.

“We have one of the best attacks going into the World Cup. We have two fine new ball bowlers in Bumrah and Siraj, and then there is the experienced Shami. Kuldeep (Yadav) has so many variations, as he offers a wicket-taking option.”

“(Ravindra) Jadeja too is around. As we spoke earlier, Hardik does give India a wonderful option with the ball. Overall, I think India has a strong and complete bowling line-up going into the World Cup,”

said Bangar.

Bangar also hoped that Shubman Gill, who made a stunning hundred against Bangladesh on Saturday, would maintain his excellent form at the World Cup.

Gill has formed a fruitful association with skipper Rohit Sharma at the pole position from January this year.

Together, they have scored more than 1,000 runs, making them the quickest Indian pair to achieve so in ODIs.

“Gill has grown a lot as a player, and he has shown what he can do as a batsman in overseas matches too. The World Cup is at home, and I hope he continues in the same fashion.” “His partnership with Rohit is important for the team because they offer that mix of youth and experience,”

said Bangar.

The former India all-rounder said winning the Asia Cup will give the country more confidence going into the World Cup.

“It is really important because it will be a confidence booster entering a tournament like the World Cup. After all, there is nothing like winning a big title and going into the World Cup,”

said Bangar.

The former India all-rounder said playing in the Asia Cup ahead of the World Cup will benefit India in good stead because of the quality of competition and conditions that are similar to those at home.

“It is an important part of the preparation (for WC). It is in ODI format, and the pitches are pretty much similar (to India), and all the teams from the sub-continent are playing here.

“Asia Cup is a tough tournament and the level of competition is very high. We have seen some closely contested matches here, and it is an ideal preparation ahead of the WC,”

he added.

India will take on Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup on Sunday in Colombo.

India Squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumraj, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (traveling reserve)Sri Lanka Squad for Asia Cup: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanaka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis (vc), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan.