Dubai, Sept 30: India once again rose to the occasion on the big stage, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a tense final to claim their ninth Asia Cup crown.The Men in Blue held their nerve with both bat and ball, showcasing composure under pressure to outclass their opponents in Dubai.
Speaking after the match, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel was full of praise for the team’s all-round effort and reserved special mention for Shivam Dube, who stepped up in the absence of Hardik Pandya.
“I thought the guys assessed the conditions and the ball really well,” Morkel said.
“It was a great opportunity for Shivam to take that first over and shoulder responsibility. He set the tone beautifully with the ball, and then what a way to finish it with the bat.”