Changes likely in Indian top order for Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka

The big question on the eve of Tuesday’s Asia Cup encounter between India and Sri Lanka is on the compositions of the two sides – Lasith Malinga’s involvement remains a doubt, while India have question marks hanging on their two openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

In the pre-match practice session on Monday, Rohit was not to be seen, while Dhawan padded up late in the day, playing in the main nets in fading evening light. MS Dhoni, who has been avoiding net sessions to avoid deteriorating his back spasms, was in the action too. A notable change from the previous pre-match practice day was that Parthiv Patel was asked to bat early on in the session.

Rohit suffered a toe injury in the Pakistan match, and though escaping a fracture, still has considerable soreness, courtesy a yorker from Mohammad Amir.

Ajinkya Rahane will be persisted with as one Indian opener in all likelihood, despite his failure to make a mark in the Pakistan match. Dhawan’s place in the team as Rahane’s opening partner has two roadblocks – a reported niggle which kept him out of the Pakistan match, and a weakness against the rising delivery.

Options available to India

On the grassy pitches that have been seen in the Asia Cup, Dhawan’s weakness is likely to be exposed yet again. Parthiv Patel is the other option available to India in the opener’s slot. Despite being taken in the squad as cover for Dhoni, Parthiv has caught the selectors’ eye this season after a hiatus because of his batting prowess as opener in limited overs matches for Gujarat.

One more option that has been suggested, though unlikely, is that Virat Kohli will be asked to open the innings alongside Rahane, and Pawan Negi will be given a chance. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harbhajan Singh are old hands, India would like to test Negi before they head out to the World T20.

India are very well-placed in terms of qualifying for the Asia Cup final, and this would be an ideal time for them to test their bench strength. Negi might also be played in place of one of Ravindra Jadeja or Ravi Ashwin, neither of whom have, however, deserved to lose their place in the XI.

Defeat for Sri Lanka on Tuesday would mean almost certain elimination. India and Bangladesh are the only two sides to have a positive net run rate among the five participating teams, and that is the way they would like to keep it.