‘Winning Asia Cup is important for momentum ahead of WC’

COLOMBO: Opener Shubman Gill said a victory in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka on Sunday is important because it will give the team a lot of momentum ahead of the World Cup beginning next month.

The 24-year-old said a victory here will instill in the team a winning habit, and fill it with confidence.

“Winning the (Asia Cup) final is very important for us because we need to create a winning habit. Peaking at the right time and gaining momentum at the right time is important,” he said during the post-match press conference on Friday night.

“It is also important to maintain that momentum because losing in one or two matches can add pressure. Winning here will give us a lot of momentum and confidence going into the World Cup.”

India had lost its Super Four match against Bangladesh by six runs on Friday night, but Gill said it has not lost any momentum ahead of the summit clash.

“I don’t think we have lost any momentum. I think we gave away extra 10-15 runs to their (Bangladesh) lower-order batters, but that apart we played some good cricket.

“But these things happen on such kinds of wickets. Hopefully, we can execute these lessons in the final (of Asia Cup) and in the World Cup.” Gill said Sri Lanka has been playing good cricket, and India needed to be at its best to win the final.

“I think they (SL) have great momentum with them. The way they won the last match (against Pakistan) was great to see.

“We will have to pull up our socks, and we have to be at our 100 per cent to beat them,” he said.

Gill said playing on slow-turning pitches in the Asia Cup will stand India in good stead during the approaching World Cup.

“It is a great practice for batsmen and bowlers because these are the kind of pitches that we generally play in India.

“Playing on these wickets against good teams and good opposition under pressure will definitely help us in the World Cup,” he said.