Asia Cup 2018: India's predicted playing XI for the final

As many as five changes were made in the Indian team which was expected to serve two purposes: give a few players some much-needed rest, and get the sparsely exposed middle-order into the act. Apart from Rahul, none of the new entrants managed to make a mark in the match.

India's match against Afghanistan didn't particularly go according to plan and had to settle for a tie. Though the match served as an excellent advertisement for the game of cricket, India very well knows that they are here to win matches more than anything else.

Now India will be looking to play the highly-anticipated final with their best available combination.

---

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma

Dhawan and Rohit have always given a solid start in the tournament

You get the feeling that the Dhawan playing in the Asia Cup is an imposter. After a horrendous Test series in England, Dhawan's form has also seen a change along with the climate. He is the top-scorer in the tournament so far, with 327 runs to his name.

The absence of Virat Kohli was covered well by Rohit, in terms of captaincy; with some even handing him higher marks. Rohit Sharma, the batsman also came to the party notching two fifties and a hundred so far. The openers along with the spinners will decide India's fate in the final.

Middle-order: Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni

Rayudu has looked calm and composed throughout the tournament

Rayudu has been at his fluent best in the Asia Cup, having scored two fifties against his name so far. He hasn't been troubled by distinctively by either spinners or seamers. In fact, he is one of the few players in the tournament whom teams have found difficult to set a plan.

Karthik in the limited opportunities that he had got, has looked solid. He absorbed all the pressure during the Afghanistan match and was well on his way to guide India home, before being subjected to the second umpiring blunder of the night.

Realistically speaking, Dhoni has been a point of concern for India. He is unable to play the spinners with the kind of freedom he enjoys with the seamers. He has become an efficient LBW and bowled candidate and Dhoni has a lot to prove in the finals.

If his insipid form extends any longer, it can threaten his position in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

All-Rounders: Kedar Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja has pocketed seven wickets so far

With four wickets in his kitty at an astonishing economy rate of 3.77, Jadhav has been a bowling revelation for India in this tournament. Jadhav's finishing ability with the bat is also well-documented and he was about to add another point to it when he was unfortunately run-out against Afghanistan.

Jaddu came in as a replacement in the tournament and made an instant impact against Bangladesh picking up four wickets and the Man of the Match award in the process. Though his glory shot against Afganistan cost India the match, he should be given credit for taking the match to the penultimate ball.

Spinners: Kuldeep and Chahal

The spin duo have managed to control the pace of the game

The conditions in UAE have been very friendly to the spinners with the track being sticky and offering truckloads of spin. And naturally so, the Indian spin twins have drawn full mileage out of it.

Kuldeep Yadav has played all the five matches so far in the tournament and has kept the batsmen guessing. He has managed to pick seven wickets with a miserly economy-rate of 4.00.

Chahal was rested against Afghanistan and his absence was direly felt. The kind of control our spinners have on the game is unfathomable, and we could expect the same in the eventful finals.

Seamers: Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah

The seamers have owned the death owers in the tournament

Bhuvneswar Kumar's place in the XI was severely questioned after an uninspirational day against Hong Kong. He then gave a slap to all his doubters through his Man of the Match performance against Pakistan. Since then his lines have been tight and hasn't been interested in gifting freebies.

The number one ODI bowler has been breathing fire in the tournament. He was very disciplined and constantly became the villain for the opposition teams in the death overs. His merciless accuracy and timely variations have made him a treasure for India in the ongoing tournament.

If the seamers assist the spinners well, then the odds of India retaining the Cup is sky-high.