India will play UAE in the last league encounter of the Asia Cup on Thursday. The Indian team management have decided to test their bench strength in the T20 game against UAE. India reached the final of the Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka by five wickets on Tuesday. On a roll with three back-to-back wins, India have finally decided to test their bench strength against minnows United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final league encounter of the Asia Cup at Mirpur on Thursday. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not someone who believes in changing the side too much but after making it to the final with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka, the India skipper said that the UAE match will be a platform to give opportunity to all those who have been sitting out in the during the tournament. It means that atleast two or three among the quartet of Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are likely to play in the match on Thursday. We’ll definitely make a few changes in the coming games. How many we can you know, that’s something we will have to see. Because we still want the strength and the composition of the side to be very good.

“I think most of the players will definitely get a chance in the next game. Whether all the people who are sitting outside will get a chance, we’re not sure. But we will try to make as many changes as possible,” Dhoni added.

Ajinkya Rahane may play in place of Shikhar Dhawan, who has looked uncomfortable on wickets, that has a bit more swing and carry.

Rahane did play against Pakistan but got out to an unplayable delivery from Mohammed Amir. The stylish right-hander deserves a second opportunity more than anyone else.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has slipped off the radar a bit since the World Cup in Australia last year, may get a game.

Yuvraj Singh, who looked in supreme form against Sri Lanka, would like to feast on an inexperienced bowling attack. Ditto for Suresh Raina, who has looked in all sorts of trouble against rising deliveries in these matches. Since both are certainties in the playing XI, they would like to get big scores before the final.

In a nutshell, the UAE encounter will be a live ‘practice game’ for the Indians.