India and Sri Lanka will clash in the final of the Asia Cup at Dambulla on Thursday. India goes into the final after winning their games against Bangladesh and Pakistan, but were subjected to a humiliating defeat by Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, won all their league games and are looking good to win the tournament for the fifth time.
India performed well against Bangladesh and Pakistan, but their bowling has continued to remain a suspect. This has meant that the side has almost struggled to douse the opposition off, unless the side collapses on its own will, and that is where they will be attacked by the Lankans. So far in the tournament, Zaheer Khan has conceded too many, but has at least picked up wickets.
It is the form of Praveen Kumar and the fitness issues of Ashish Nehra that need to be addressed before the final. One gets a feeling that the Indians may look at getting in an extra spinner in place of the pace bowlers despite the opposition’s obvious strengths against spin. 
So, Pragyan Ojha may come in to partner the others; Zaheer, Praveen, Harbhajan Singh – who should come back after the break in the previous game – and Ravindra Jadeja. 
Talking of the bowling, Sri Lankans go into the game with decisions to be made as well. But the difference is that their decision-making needs to include the long list of good performers that the Lankans have had in the tournament with the ball. So while Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekera should be virtual certainties, it is a question mark over who the other three bowlers are.
Even Muthiah Muralitharan is not a certainty, given the manner in which he has bowled in the tournament so far.
The equation for India is rather simple. They need to win the toss, bat first and ensure that they bat better than what they have so far. Suresh Raina needs more time at the crease as he looks to be India’s best in the current set-up and that is where the management need to take a call to send him up the order.
For now, Sri Lanka look like they are the side to beat; but go in only as marginal favourites at 10/11 (Bet 365) as compared to the 1/1 at Paddy Power. My gut feel is that though the Sri Lankans are miles ahead of India, the tourists will do to the Lankans what they had done to India in the previous Asia Cup – beat the Indians in the final after losing the league game!