India edged out a spirited Bangladesh by three wickets to secure a last-ball triumph in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Friday. A hobbling Kedar Jadhav, who braved a hamstring injury, stole a leg bye off the last ball of Mahmudullah to help the Men in Blue retain the title. India, without their regular captain Virat Kohli, remained unbeaten en route to a record extending seventh title while the Tigers came agonisingly close to breaking their jinx having fallen at the final hurdle for the third time in the history of the competition.
Bangladesh squandered a golden chance to put up a big total after the makeshift opening pair of Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan added 120. Part-time spinner Jadhav provided India the breakthrough and from there on the Bangladesh lost the momentum and they were eventually bowled out for 222 despite a sublime maiden international hundred by Das.
Bangladesh, led superbly by the seasoned Mashrafe Mortaza, made the Indians earn every run and the Tigers as well as their supporters could be proud of their fighting display. It is only a matter of time before Bangladesh win a major title. The team showed great character to defeat Pakistan in the all-important Super Four encounter without the services of the injured duo of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.
India, under Rohit Sharma, had a fruitful outing. But the team management as well as the national selectors would be worried about the shaky middle order with the World Cup only months away. India are heavily reliant on the opening duo of Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan as well as Kohli. In Kohli's absence Ambati Rayudu played quite well at the No. 3 slot. However, the middle-order trio of M S Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik and Jadhav did not impress much with the limited opportunities they got in the championship.
Dhoni is at the fag end of his glorious career and though the champion player is of immense value behind the wicket and with his reading of the match situation, his hitting prowess is on the wane. Karthik is yet to establish himself as a one-day player despite his utility value. Jadhav was the man with the golden arm for Rohit, but his fitness remains a major worry. The Indian think tank needs to have a serious look at K L Rahul as a specialist middle-order player. He could just be the man for India in the World Cup.
Jadeja stakes his claim
The unfortunate injury to Hardik Pandya in the group stage meant Ravindra Jadeja was drafted into the Indian squad. The Saurashtra all-rounder grabbed the chance with both hands and it will be hard for the selectors to overlook the contributions of Jadeja on his comeback. He's a real live wire on the field, is handy with his left-arm spin and can wield the willow to good effect as he showed in the tied match against Afghanistan and in the climactic stages of the final.
Jasprit Bumrah was Rohit's go-to man both with the new ball and at the death. Bumrah is the most important bowler for India in the shorter formats and the team management has to be wise in managing his workload.
The spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal pulled their weight yet again by picking up vital wickets in the middle overs.
Rohit shone both as a captain and at the top of the order. He did not press the panic button when the Bangladesh openers went hammer and tongs in the title clash. The Mumbaikar waited patiently and once the opportunities came he was quick to pounce on them.
On the whole it was a closely fought championship. Afghanistan won the hearts of all with their never-say-die attitude against the bigger teams. Sri Lanka, who crashed out in the group stage, and Pakistan, who failed to really take off in the competition, have some serious thinking to do.
