Internet Desk: India will look to continue their dominance as they take on Sri Lanka in the round robin league match of Asia Cup at Mirpur on Tuesday . The biggest concern for the Indian team is injury concern to key players such as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
Despite injuries, India will have the edge against the island nation, whom they beat 2-1 in a recent home series. The reason being a possible injury to Lankan captain and primary strike bowler Lasith Malinga, whose knee problem has again flared up and has put his further participation in the tournament in doubt.
“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.
India have been plagued with injuries in this tournament. Skipper Dhoni is playing through pain due to the back spasms, which has prevented him from taking part in most of the training sessions. Dhawan was ruled out in the last match. Latest blow has been Rohit Sharma, who got hit on the left toe by a crushing yorker from Mohammad Amir during the Pakistan match.
According to information, a precautionary X-ray has been done and luckily no fracture has been detected.
Rohit Sharma skipped the teams training session and is likely to miss tomorrows Asia Cup T20 match against Sri Lanka, here. His opening partner Shikhar Dhawan did train, so did skipperMahendra Singh Dhoni, who had a knock during the two- and-a-half-hour net session at the BCB Academy in Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
With the World T20 starting in a week?s time, the team management will not risk Rohit, who is one of the key players in the top order. Dhawan today hit the nets but did not have the usual sprightly strides that one normally associates with the Delhi left-hander. He took a few catches, did a bit of shadow batting and was the last one to come out to bat in fading light.
For a change, Parthiv Patel got to bat early in the net session right after Raina, Kohli and Rahane. It is still not clear as to who will be Rahanes opening partner for tomorrows game. It was also heartening to see Dhoni has a hit at the net session, which he had carefully avoided due to the back spasms. Despite injuries, the mood in the camp looked upbeat as Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli and Team Director Ravi Shastri were seen enjoying a hearty laugh after the nets were over.