Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma injured before final vs Pakistan:India bowling coach downplays Pandya’s condition; Tilak sustained leg injury

Team India’s Asia Cup 2025 final preparations have hit a halt as Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma have been injured before the big day. For now, there is suspense over Pandya’s participation due to the muscle strain that he sustained on Friday against Sri Lanka. He will be assessed today Meanwhile, Tilak Varma has sustained a leg injury. But the team management has not disclosed any update on the condition of the Indian batter. Both were injured in the last Super-4 match against Sri Lanka on Friday. Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel spoke about Hardik’s injury update in a press conference on Friday. He also mentioned that Abhishek Sharma had a muscle strain, but he is fine now. Notably, India defeated Sri Lanka in the last Super-4 match of the Asia Cup in a Super Over. India was given a target of 3 runs, which Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav achieved on the first ball. Hardik bowled only one over For the Indian team in this Asia Cup, Hardik Pandya bowls with the new ball. He has bowled the first over in almost every match. In this match against Sri Lanka, Hardik also bowled the first over. In this over, he also took the big wicket of Kusal Mendis. However, after this, Hardik did not bowl a single over throughout the match. Sri Lankan batsmen continued to bat explosively, but captain Suryakumar Yadav did not bring Hardik back into the attack. After bowling the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings, Hardik Pandya left the field. Rinku Singh came in as a substitute fielder in his place. Hardik did not return after that, and this was the reason why Rinku also fielded during the Super Over and took a catch. Tilak Varma also injured Tilak Varma also had to leave during Sri Lanka’s innings. In the 10th over, Abhishek left after the second ball. In the 18th over, Tilak Varma got injured. Dasun Shanaka hit a six at mid-wicket off Axar Patel’s ball. Tilak Varma tried to stop the ball by jumping high. Due to this, his leg was injured. He was unable to walk properly. He left the field, and Shivam Dube came in for fielding. Indian Team will not train before title clash vs Pakistan Morkel said that the Indian team will not hold any training session before the Asia Cup final against Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai. A smart strategy will be adopted to keep the players fit and fresh. “They’re in an ice bath already. The recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully they can get a good night’s sleep,” India’s bowling coach said in the post-match press conference. Morkel described the thrilling Super Over win against Sri Lanka as excellent preparation for the final. In the thrilling match against Sri Lanka, both teams scored more than 200 runs. Morkel called it a learning opportunity for the team. He said, ‘The team learns a lot from bowling in such difficult situations. This group will become stronger.’ Suryakumar heaps praise for Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav stated in the post-match presentation that the Super-4 matchup vs Sri Lanka felt like a final. He praised Sanju Samson’s (39 runs) and Tilak Varma’s (49* runs) excellent batting in the middle order and Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant bowling in the super over. The India skipper said, “He (Arshdeep) has delivered for us the last 2-3 years. I told him to back his own plans and try to execute.” “He has been there in that situation many times, and he has done really well for India and for his IPL side. His confidence says it all. None other than Arshdeep to bowl that Super Over,” Suryakumar Yadav further added. Sri Lanka captain admits Indian spinners changed the game Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said that Indian spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav changed the course of the game. He said, “It was a fabulous game and we were in the game until Varun and Kuldeep bowled those middle overs.” Sri Lankan batsman Pathum Nissanka scored 107 runs off 58 balls, and Kusal Perera scored 58 runs off 32 balls, for which he was chosen Player of the Match. Asalanka further added, “It was unbelievable batting (from Nissanka), they have some extremely good bowlers, and it was really good to see him bat with that attacking approach. Lots of positives from the Asia Cup.” This victory was a confidence booster for India before the final, and now all eyes are on the final between India and Pakistan.