We are halfway through the 2023 Asia Cup and match 3 of the Super Four stage will see one of the most awaited battles. Two Asian giants, arch rivals- India and Pakistan are set to collide for the second time in the onging tournament, to be staged at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday. The match will commence on Bangladesh time 3:30 pm.
Rain interfered in the previous meeting between the neighbours, and the game was called off after the first innings. India batted first and piled up 266 runs thanks to the resilience of Hardik Pandya (87 off 90) and Ishan Kishan (82 off 81). After the first half, it rained continuously, and the game came to a standstill. However, this time there will be a reserve day for this only clash in Super 4 stage.
For Pakistan, they are yet to be defeated in the mega-event after having participating in three matches. They initiated the competition with a massive drubbing to Nepal, winning by 238 runs. Their next match was a stalemate against India. And in the latest of all, the Babar Azam-led unit defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the first match of the Super Fours.
On the flip side, both matches where the Men in Blue were a part of were rain-affected. The first one being against Pakistan and the next one was against Nepal. The bowlers had to work hard to restrict the Rohit Paudel-led side to 230 runs in the first innings. In reply, they had to chase down a DLS target of 145 runs which Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma did without any hiccups.
Rain, scheduling constraints, and a last-minute change to playing conditions have all thrown the 2023 Asia Cup into chaos.
The tournament has moved to Colombo, with India and Pakistan looking to resume their rivalry after rain had held sway in Pallekele. The weather, however, continues to be a threat. It could be another wet day on Sunday, with chances of precipitation up to 90%.
Rahul hasn't played in an ODI since March while Bumrah hasn't bowled in one since July. And in order to accommodate Rahul in the XI, India's team management might have to bench Ishan Kishan, who has reeled off four half-centuries in his last four innings in the format. Decisions, decisions.
After spending four months on the sidelines, KL Rahul is set to slot back into India's ODI XI. Kishan has shaken things up in the recent past and has grabbed almost every opportunity, but Rahul has got the vote of confidence from the selectors and the team management. At a recent press conference, India's captain Rohit Sharma saw the possibility of having both Rahul and Kishan in the XI, but that appears unlikely. It will be Rahul vs Kishan in the lead-up to the World Cup. Sunday's fixture against Pakistan could well be Rahul's first chance to prove his fitness and form.
