Asia Cup 2018: Mahela Jayawardene names the favourites to win the tournament

Team India has been on a roll so far in the ongoing Asia Cup and is yet to lose a game in the competition. They have already qualified to the final and are currently playing against Afghanistan in an inconsequential game. With the way they’ve hammered the teams, it is only fitting that they are deemed as the favourites to lift the title. Even the former Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene feels the same as he also went on to say that the Men in Blue is an all-round package.

India rested Virat Kohli for the tournament after a three-month-long England tour and appointed Rohit Sharma as the leader of the pack after which many felt that their batting will struggle. But the Indian bowlers have taken care of that as they haven’t conceded more than 260 runs in the tournament. The likes of Bangladesh and Pakistan have been bowled out for the scores of 173 and 162 respectively.

Their batsmen, especially openers, have been clinical in the chases as well which hasn’t allowed the oppositions to make a comeback in the match.

India are the favourites

In his column for the Times of India, Mahela Jayawardene praised Team India for an exceptional show and also felt that they are cut above the rest when it comes to the skill levels in the Asia Cup. He also termed them as the favourites to lift the trophy. However, he was also quick to point out that Pakistan can threaten them in the final if they qualify and also wrote that they will have to lift their game to do so.

“As an all-round package, India just look a cut above the rest right now. Their batting is powerful and consistent, while their bowling attack has the necessary power to balance the potency of these kinds of pitches. Their potential opponents (Pakistan) in the final have, meanwhile, struggled with inconsistency throughout the tournament. That does not mean they will not provide a threat to India because they both have the potential to lift their game,” Jayawardene wrote.

The final of the Asia Cup will be played on Friday and it will be interesting to see if there will be a third encounter between the arch-rivals in 10 days.

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