Asia Cup 2023: One benched player in Super 4s from each team who deserves regular chances in playing XI

The Asia Cup 2023 tournament ended with a bang with India becoming champions for a record eighth time. The Rohit Sharma-led side decimated Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo. The co-hosts had the worst of starts to their innings as the top order failed to fire in the summit clash. Consequently, Sri Lanka got bundled out for 50 runs, which India chased down with sheer ease in just 6.1 overs to win the game by 10 wickets.

The tournament featured six teams, but only four- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka made it into the Super 4s stage. Bangladesh was the first to be eliminated from the race for the final, while Pakistan was the next. The Super 4s stage was full of excitement with close matches coupled with one-sided jobs. Most of the sides played with a fixed playing XI unless there were injuries or when they wanted to rest a few players.

These players didn’t get to play the entire tournament, but when given a chance, shined for their teams and should be given more chances in the future, especially in the World Cup 2023. 

Here is one benched player in Super 4s from each team who deserves regular chances in playing XI:

4. Dushan Hemantha (Sri Lanka)

Dushan Hemantha was brought into the Sri Lanka squad in the Super 4s stage after it was revealed that Maheesh Theekshana had suffered a hamstring injury. This meant that he didn’t play in the final of the tournament. Sri Lanka, unfortunately, lost the Asia Cup 2023 final by 10 wickets after being bowled out for 50.

Hemantha, 29, has played 3 ODIs so far including the Asia Cup 2023 final, and has picked 2 wickets. He didn’t get to bowl in the final but had scored a valuable 13* to help Sri Lanka go past their lowest score in ODIs-43. He is a talented all-rounder and should get more chances in the Sri Lankan team, especially with Wanindu Hasaranga and Theekshana carrying niggles into the World Cup 2023.