Asia Cup
COLOMBO, Sept 9:
Amidst the threat of rains, India is likely to field experienced pros KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah in the crucial match against arch-rivals Pakistan in the third match of the Super-4 stage at R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.
Last Saturday, both teams met at Pallekele, but unfortunately rain played a spoilsport just when the match was building up to an exciting climax. The interruptions caused significant delays, and despite the best efforts of the ground staff, the match was called off with no result, leaving both teams and fans disappointed. The weather continues to be a threat at Premadasa tomorrow as well.
Weathermen predict 90 per cent precipitation, but fortunately, a reserve day has been allocated for this match apart from the finals. India’s match against Nepal too was affected by rains. Rahul, who has not played any international match since July, might be fielded tomorrow, which could deny in-form Ishan Kishan match despite scoring four half-centuries on the trot. Bumrah, who missed the match against Nepal for the birth of his first child Angad, rejoined the squad and would be eager to swing his arms against Pakistan. His return would force the think tank to bench Mohammad Shami. One of the most notable highlights of the recent match was the outstanding performance of Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi, who achieved a remarkable feat by dismissing both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
This achievement marked a significant moment in the match, putting Pakistan in a favorable position. At the end of 14.1 overs, India was struggling at 66/4, facing a daunting situation. Hardik Pandya joined Kishan in the middle, and together they embarked on a rescue mission for India. (UNI)
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