Beleaguered Indians ready to fight hard

It is said that the night is darkest just before the dawn. Hopefully Indian team have already passed that dark phase and they are waiting for a new dawn.

 

Indians face the challenge of making a fresh start in the Asia Cup. The tournament is different and the venue is altogether different. In the recent past they were thrashed brutally down under. 

 

Indians are the defending champion of Asia cup but to win it again they will have to think out of the box. The Lankans look an unbeatable side in this Asia Cup. Even Pakistan can give tough competition to Indians.

 

Bangladesh could be a bit easier to beat but in the first match they have already shown the fighting spirit which can be detrimental for any team which would be behaving casually in the middle.

 

The first challenge for team India is to beat Sri Lankans with comprehensive margin which will lift the morale of the team and the chances of doing better in the rest of the matches of the Asia Cup. Indians have to leave the heavy baggage of controversies of the recent past. They have now only one task ahead and that is to win it at any cost.

 

To keep fans interested in IPL matches, defending the title is must for Indians. So there might be a pressure from BCCI to do well in the Asia Cup. Both India and Sri Lanka have excellent records at Shere Bangle Naional Stadium, Mirpur.

 

India have played 11 matches at this venue. They have won 8 and lost three. Whereas Sri Lankans have played 8 matches at Mirpur ground and have won 6 and lost two. Both the teams have played three matches against each other in which Sri Lankans have won two and India won only one match.

 

India have not done well against Sri Lanka in Mirpur but they did comparatively well against Lankans in the last CB Series. They won two, lost one and the remaining one match was a tie.

 

Mirpur will be a totally different ground for both the teams in comparison to what they experienced in Australia. So a different approach and a different kind of strategy will be required to win this encounter. Spin will play a major role and which ever team exploits the conditions well will open its winning account on Tuesday.

 

India will face Bangladesh on 16th and on 18th March, archrival Pakistan will be challenging Indians. On 22nd final will be played. Indians have won Asia cup five times if they win it again, they will have perfect sixer of titles wins in Asia cup but if Lankans win they will equalize India'a five title wins. Pakistan is the third country to win the Asia cup and that has happened only in 2000.