Gautam Gambhir explains why India’s victory over Sri Lanka was ‘more convincing than Pakistan’s’

The Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash between India and Sri Lanka was played to the wire, although the scoreboard might not suggest it. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team eventually won by 41 runs after setting a target of 214 runs for the co-hosts of the 2023 Asia Cup. Indian bowlers, however, stepped up when it mattered. more, Kuldeep Yadav taking four wickets. Sri Lanka were boosted by some tough innings from Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, among others, but India kept their composure to claim victory.

Former Indian cricket team star Gautam Gambhir called India’s victory against Sri Lanka even more “convincing” than against Pakistan. India had beaten Pakistan by 228 runs on Monday.

“This win for me was more convincing than Pakistan’s win. We won against Pakistan by 228 runs but that would give them a lot of confidence,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports.

“There were no doubts about the batting unit. There were always doubts about Jasprit Bumrah’s return after injury. Then you had Kuldeep and the other bowlers.

“But defending 217 on that wicket, plus the conditions. I know there was a bit of grip on the wicket but it stuck more in the first innings.”

Gambhir added that victory against a team like Sri Lanka, who play spin very well, will give confidence to the team.

“Defending 217 against Sri Lanka, they are a very good team playing against spin. That would give them a lot of confidence going into the final and then the World Cup. Because by the time your Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav start to shoot, I think that’s the case. it gives a lot of confidence to the captain,” he said.

Meanwhile, India’s bowlers produced a splendid collective effort to take their team to a 41-run victory over a spirited Sri Lanka in a Super 4 match, and through to the Asia Cup final on Tuesday. Rohit Sharma’s fifty (53 off 48 balls) was the cornerstone of India’s sub-par 213 after Lankan spinners Dunith Wellalage (5/40) and Charith Asalanka (4/18) bamboozled them.

But India, guided by Kuldeep Yadav’s 4 for 43, bowled out Sri Lanka for 172.

India, who entered the final with four points, will face Sri Lanka or Pakistan in the summit clash on Sunday. The hosts will face Pakistan in a crucial match on Thursday.

Their batsmen’s insipid effort forced the Indian bowlers to take money from the first ball, and Jasprit Bumrah led the way with some excellent bowling.

With PTI inputs