Asia Cup 2016 Final, India Vs Bangladesh: 5 Talking Points

India's consistent performance during the 2016 Asia Cup T20 was impressive to say the least. India has had a way of losing their way in the final encounters in previous tournaments. However, this time around India did not lose their way as they put in an all-round performance to win their sixth Asia Cup title.

Rain almost played spoilsport owing to thunderstorms taking away the first couple hours of the game. The ground staff did a commendable job making the pitch and the outfield in playing condition.
Bangladesh, who have been impressive in the tournament, put in a good performance with the bat with their main player Sabbir Rahman playing another important knock to help their side reach a decent total on board.

But, with opponents like India at hand, it was always going to be difficult for Bangladesh to contain the Indian batting lineup. The Indian batsmen made the chase look easy and put in a comprehensive performance.

Here are the major talking points from the game:

#1 Is Bumrah India's version of Lasith Malinga?

Since making his debut for India, Jasprit Bumrah has been in impeccable form with the ball, doing well in Australia, India and now even in Bangladesh. Behind Hardik Pandya, Bumrah is India's second highest wicket-taker in the 2016 Asia Cup T20.

In 5 matches, Bumrah has picked up 6 wickets at an average of 15.66 and an economy rate of 5.22. Although the number of wickets might not actually prove the threat that the 22-year-old poses, his habit of not giving away easy runs is what makes him a special talent.

With a slingy action that resembles Sri Lanka's frontline bowler Lasith Malinga's, Bumrah is able to bowl the toe-crushing yorkers that are a threat to any batsman. India has long missed the services of a bowler who could prove a real danger to the opposition in the death overs and it seems like Bumrah is the perfect one to execute that role.

If the youngster can go on to replicate his form in the upcoming tournaments and series for his national side, he could turn out to be one of the most intimidating bowlers of the modern era.

#2 Mahmudullah's blitzkrieg

When Bangladesh lost Mashrafe Mortaza, who promoted himself to No. 6, it seemed like it might cause a flurry of wickets falling and India bowling the home side out. However, what followed was some brutal power-hitting by Mahmudullah to propel Bangladesh to a competitive score on a tricky wicket.

Mahmudullah's 13-ball 33 powered Bangladesh to a score of 120 in 15 overs. In the 45-run partnership between Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman, 33 of the runs were scored by Mahmudullah despite Sabbir being the man in form.

This innings was very important for Bangladesh as most batsmen struggled to get going. Mahmudullah, who usually likes to take time to get settled at the crease, played an unusual but valuable knock for his side.

#3 Dhawan getting back to form at the right time. Again.

In the three matches that Shikhar Dhawan played in the Asia Cup T20, the 30-year-old has been struggling for runs and questions arose again about his place in the Indian squad after scores of 2, 4 and 16*.

If there is any player who can play an important knock when his place in the side is in doubt, it is Dhawan. And Dhawan came up with a knock that helped India chase down the total set by Bangladesh.

Dhawan's 60 off 44 balls helped set the foundation for India's chase. This was Dhawan's highest score in T20Is and only his second T20I fifty. And without doubt, the most important innings of the match as he played the role of the attacker in the chase.

#4 Impeccable Kohli

Since the turn of the new year, there has been one player who has been in impeccable form for India – the vice-captain, Virat Kohli. Kohli seems to worked on his weaknesses from 2015 and seems to have grown into a way better player than ever before.

In four innings that Kohli batted in the Asia Cup T20, he has scored 153 runs at an outstanding average of 76.50. The fact that he scored only one fifty underlines the consistency at which the 27-year-old bats his way through matches.

His 94-run partnership with Dhawan was the main reason that India did not look troubled even for once during the chase. His inability to play the big shots on a regular basis has been complemented very well by his exemplary running between the wickets. This was proved by his knock of 41 off 28 balls that included only five fours, which is less than 50% of the runs he scored.

Kohli's form will be one of the keys to success in India's quest to win their second World T20 title, and Indian cricket fans will be feeling hopeful of a good showing from the vice-captain in the upcoming tournament at home.

#5 Dhoni 'the finisher' not finished yet?

Before the match, whoever had a doubt regarding the role of MS Dhoni in the Indian side will have got the answer to their questions in some style by the Indian captain. When India lost Dhawan at 99/2 with just 14 balls to go and needing 21 runs to win it did seem like Bangladesh came back into the match, for just a while.

However, once Dhoni took strike to face Al-Amin Hossain in the 14^th over, all fears of Indian cricket fans were gone and all hopes of Bangladesh cricket fans were quashed as it took the Indian captain just three balls to hit the crucial shots that gave India their sixth Asia Cup title.

Once again, the 34-year-old proved to his critics that he still has it in him to go on for a while longer in international cricket and remain successful.

It will be thrilling for Indian cricket fans to witness their limited-overs captain play shots like he did in the final and Dhoni will be looking to continue this hitting prowess going into the World T20 and win his second T20 World Cup title.



source:Sportskeeda

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