New Delhi, September 27 (HS): India received a mixed update ahead of the Asia Cup final against Pakistan as concerns linger over all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s fitness, while opener Abhishek Sharma has been cleared fit. Both players had suffered cramps during the Super Four clash against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Friday night and were forced off the field during the second innings.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel confirmed after the game that Pandya’s condition will be reassessed on Saturday before any decision is made regarding his participation in Sunday’s title clash. “Hardik’s situation will be evaluated tomorrow and a call will be taken. Abhishek is fine. Both players were only struggling with cramps,” Morkel said.
Pandya bowled just one over before leaving the field, whereas Abhishek stayed on the ground until the 9.2-over mark before being taken off. The opener had earlier produced a blistering 61 off just 31 deliveries, continuing his fine run in the tournament. Despite his strong batting display, he did not feature in the Super Over, with Shubman Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav finishing the match for India.With less than 48 hours’ turnaround between the Super Four contest and the final, India’s management opted against holding a training session on Saturday, prioritizing recovery instead.
Meanwhile, Pakistan scheduled a practice session at the ICC Academy from 6 pm to 9 pm local time.Morkel explained that the Indian team’s focus would be on smart recovery rather than conventional preparation. “For the players, rest is the most important. Recovery has already begun with ice baths. The best recovery comes through sleep and giving the legs ample rest. Tomorrow morning, the boys will have individual pool sessions followed by massage and mental preparation for the big game,” he said.
He added that with limited time between fixtures, conserving energy and engaging in targeted recovery was the smarter route. As a result, there will be no conventional net practice for Team India before the final showdown.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
