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'The Game Can Change A Little if India...' Aakash Chopra on IND vs SL Asia Cup Final 

image-lmn7pvsrRohit Sharma would be playing his 5th Asia Cup final today (AP News)

Aakash Chopra, has voiced his opinion that India would enjoy a substantial advantage if they were to bat first in the Asia Cup 2023 Final scheduled for Sunday, September 17, against Sri Lanka. It's worth noting that India had previously defeated Sri Lanka during the Super 4 stage of the tournament.

Chopra emphasized that should India establish a target while batting first, they could potentially exert effortless dominance over the game.

"If India bat first, I feel they will finish this match like one-way traffic. Whatever runs they make at the start, they won't allow Sri Lanka to score them. I have the belief in the bowlers that they won't allow them to score. I have confidence in the batters as well if they bat first," he said on his YouTube channel.

He holds a high degree of confidence in India's bowlers to effectively restrict Sri Lanka from successfully chasing down the total. Furthermore, Chopra expressed his belief in India's batting lineup, especially if they have the opportunity to set the pace in the match.

Throughout the tournament, India has exhibited an overall display of dominance, with the exception of a setback against Bangladesh in a match where several key players were rested. During the Super 4 stage, India convincingly outperformed Pakistan and managed to secure a hard-fought victory against Sri Lanka while successfully defending a total of 214 runs.

"Rohit Sharma likes Sri Lanka a lot and if India get to bat first, Rohit Sharma will be explosive. Shubman Gill will be there alongside him. The way Shubman Gill played spin in the last match, you can say he won't have difficulties against these bowlers on these pitches. Although Dunith Wellalage troubled him once, he won't be able to do it repeatedly," he further added.

Chopra also highlighted Indian captain Rohit Sharma's fondness for playing against Sri Lanka, suggesting that an explosive performance can be expected if India sets the target. He also noted the proficiency of Shubman Gill, particularly against spin bowling, which could make him a valuable asset in such playing conditions.

However, Chopra sounded a note of caution, pointing out that the scenario might become challenging if India finds itself in the position of chasing a target. He referenced India's less-than-ideal performance while pursuing a target of 260 runs against Bangladesh, where they were unable to bat for the full 50 overs in the second innings.

"The game can change a little if India bat second. Then Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage - all of them do well. If Sri Lanka bat first after winning the toss, there is no doubt that India will start as favorites, but it can become a 60-40 game, still in favor of India." 

Chopra's perspective is that if India takes the initiative and bats first, they would have a significant advantage. However, if they are tasked with chasing a target, the game's dynamics could become more evenly balanced, with India still holding a slight 60-40 advantage.