Asia Cup 2023: Eyeing Super Four Berth After Washout With Pakistan, India Face Nepal

Coming off a washout, India would hope they solely have greenhorns Nepal to sort out and never rain because the heavyweights eye a berth within the Super Four of the Asia Cup in Pallekele, Sri Lanka on Monday. From Group A, Pakistan have already certified to the Super Four with 3 factors, and India have one level from the washed-out recreation in opposition to their arch-rivals on Saturday. Even within the occasion of one other rain-marred match on the morrow, India can advance to the Super Four with two factors, however Rohit Sharma’s males will definitely not need it that means.

India acquired some encouraging indicators from their match in opposition to Pakistan, and they’d wish to construct on them forward of the enterprise finish of this match and far sterner assays within the ready.

Pakistan pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf had diminished India to 66 for 4 by the fifteenth over. At that time, India’s worries might need been accentuated by the truth that they’ve a jelly middle-order.

Ishan Kishan was taking part in the primary match of his profession at No. 5 in ODIs and Hardik Pandya by no means actually fitted the invoice of a firefighter.

However, each Kishan and Pandya overcame their private predicaments to amass 138 runs for the fifth wicket, cornerstone of India’s eventual 266.

Kishan was notably spectacular, as his forte is being a dashing top-order batsman.

So, there was that trace of doubt whether or not Kishan would have the ability to make the mandatory changes to his batting and strategy to go well with the No. 5 slot.

He excelled on each the counts. As a top-order batter Kishan was inclined to pacers who may transfer the ball round.

Instead of trusting his defence, Kishan’s technique to get out of the cage was being aggressive. But right here he needed to be defensive.

Rauf, Afridi and Naseem Shah examined his fortitude however for as soon as Kishan confirmed that he can supply a scratch.

Nepal wouldn’t have the standard of Pakistan, however Kishan want to have a go at them and add some extra runs below his belt to spice up his new profile.

Similarly, the administration may also welcome the composure Pandya confirmed whereas taking part in second fiddle to Kishan, and the seamless shifting of gears the all-rounder did after the left-hander’s dismissal.

The adaptability and the no-egotistical strategies of Pandya would have happy the think-tank no finish.

Even although the stuttering effort of their prime 4 – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer – in opposition to Pakistan pacers might be handled as an aberration, the administration would need them to get into ODI mode on the earliest.

Rohit and Kohli have been rested for the ODIs in opposition to the West Indies, whereas Shreyas Iyer is making his return after an damage lay-off.

Nepal would possibly simply give the trio the right opposition to earn some invaluable recreation time and runs.

However, the staff prime brass could be a tad upset as a result of the bowlers by no means acquired an opportunity to check their expertise in opposition to a top quality opponent in Pakistan.

They would have been desirous to see how Jasprit Bumrah responded to the duty of bowling 10 overs and fielding the size of fifty overs.

His efficiency would have been be keenly monitored in opposition to Nepal however the tempo spearhead is unavailable for the sport because of private causes.

Nepal, who misplaced to Pakistan by 238 runs within the match opener, can be desirous to masks their lack of cricketing pedigree with their enthusiasm.

Their largest hope to make some affect within the match will probably be leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and captain Rohit Paudel.

But in the true world, they are going to be more than pleased to restrict the injury to the minimal in opposition to a cricketing powerhouse like India.

Teams (from): India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (travelling reserve).

Nepal: Rohit Paudel (captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud.

Match begins at 3 PM IST.

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