NEW DELHI: India will be aiming to reassert their continental supremacy when they take on Bangladesh in the
Asia Cup final
on Friday. Here we look out at the top players who will be key for both the teams in the summit clash.
READ ALSO: Asia Cup Final - India ready to tame depleted Bangladesh 65981806 Rohit SharmaThe stand-in Indian captain is virtually unstoppable when in full flow. And the 31-year-old is in a rich vein of form at the Asia Cup right now. He is currently the third highest run scorer in this edition of the tournament with 269 runs in 4 innings. Rohit has the best average among all batsmen in the tournament (134.50) with a highest score of 111*. He also has two half centuries and has hit 22 fours and 10 sixes in this edition of the Asia Cup so far. If Rohit gets going in the final, Bangladesh will have a tough time.
Shikhar DhawanAn in-form Shikhar Dhawan can snatch the momentum away from the opposition on any given day. The 32-year-old southpaw is having a great time in the tournament this time, having already scored two centuries. With 327 runs in 4 innings, Shikhar is the highest run-getter so far in
Asia Cup 2018
. With an average of 82 and a strike rate of 102, Shikhar seems to be in imperious form. With a highest score of 127 in the tournament this time, Shikhar has hit as many as 41 fours and 6 sixes and will be one of the key men the Bangladesh bowlers will be targeting.
Mustafizur RahmanAfter struggling to find his rhythm, the Bangladesh pace spearhead played a huge role in knocking Pakistan out of the tournament. Mustafizur Rahman's figures of 4/43 in 10 overs went a long way in helping Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 37 runs in their virtual semi-final. The 23-year-old, who is regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in world cricket will be itching to up the ante against India in the big final. Mustafizur was not part of the Bangladesh team that lost to India in the 2016 Asia Cup final and will want to make a big contribution as the Bangla Tigers eye their maiden Asia Cup title.
Jasprit BumrahIf Bangladesh have Mustafizur, India have Jasprit Bumrah. The 24-year-old who can bowl yorkers at will could be one of India's most potent weapons in the final against Bangladesh. The third highest wicket-taker in the tournament this time, with 7 wickets in 3 matches, Bumrah should be back in the playing XI after being rested for the match vs Afghanistan. Rohit will look to Bumrah to dry up the runs as well, apart from striking with the new ball. The young fast bowler has an exceptional economy rate of 3.37, having given away 89 runs in 26.2 overs he has bowled so far.
Mushfiqur RahimThe former Bangladesh captain has always been one of the pillars of the Bangladesh team. And the 31-year-old showed just what he can bring to the table in the last Super 4 match vs Pakistan where he scored a brilliant 99. The wicket-keeper in fact is the second highest run-scorer in the tournament so far with 297 runs in 4 matches, with a highest score of 144. He has hit 23 fours and 5 sixes so far and has the ability to attack to the opposition bowlers and can be a key player in the final.
Ravindra JadejaThe Indian all-rounder who has not been a regular member of India's ODI team for quite some time has been trying to silence his critics after being called in to replace the injured Axar Patel. In the 3 matches Jadeja has played in the tournament so far, he has batted just once, scoring 25 runs. But it's with the ball that he has proved to be very useful, taking 7 wickets so far and is in fact the joint-third highest wicket-taker so far in the tournament. Rohit will be looking to use Jadeja to try and pick regular wickets in the middle overs.