The much-anticipated clash in the Asia Cup 2023 between India and Pakistan faced a delayed start to the second innings due to heavy rain at the innings break.
The match, which is stopped due to rain delay at the Pallakelle Stadium in Sri Lanka, saw India setting a target of 267 for Pakistan after being bowled out for 266 in the 49th over.
In a thrilling encounter, India’s decision to bat first initially seemed questionable as Pakistani seamers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rauf, wreaked havoc in the top order, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer within the first 15 overs.
However, India mounted a recovery, led by a threatening partnership between Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan. The pacers made a comeback, taking three consecutive wickets, with Shaheen and Rauf each securing three dismissals, while Naseem Shah claimed the last three wickets of Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Despite India’s challenging innings, rain interruptions plagued the game. The match was first halted during the fourth over, with India already at 15 runs. Another interruption occurred when India was at 51-3 during the 11th over, but the game eventually resumed.
The persistent rain, however, continued to threaten the encounter, raising concerns of reduced overs and a revised target. This downpour not only disappointed cricket fans worldwide but also disrupted the high-octane match between Pakistani pacers and Indian batters.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, speaking about the weather conditions before the match, emphasized the need to embrace the challenge.
He also highlighted the team’s preparations and the addition of key players like Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shardul Thakur.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed his desire to bat first and noted their familiarity with the playing conditions. Pakistan started their Asia Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 238-run victory over Nepal.
In terms of historical performance in the Asia Cup, India holds the upper hand with seven wins in 13 ODIs against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan has secured five victories, with one match ending in no result.
