Haris Rauf gives a Venkatesh Prasad-style farewell at Pallekele. India versus Pakistan has always elicited strong emotions from cricketers, fans, and others.
The India-Pakistan rivalry has always elicited strong feelings from cricketers, fans, and others. So far, India’s Asia Cup opener versus Pakistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has lived up to the expectations. In Kandy, Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first despite the poor weather conditions.
Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were at their best, breaking India’s backbone. Ishan Kishan debuted at number five, stomped through the pressure, and put on a show in Pallekele. Haris Rauf returned after India’s resurgence, chose Kishan in the 38th over, and gave him a violent send-off to complete his innings.
In India’s innings, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got off to a good start before the rain gods intervened. The break worked wonders for Pakistan, as Shaheen Afridi easily dispatched Rohit. Virat Kohli chopped it on for four runs to turn one wicket into two. Shreyas Iyer looked quite good on his comeback, creaming a few through the covers.
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Iyer’s kryptonite was the short ball once more as he attempt to pull Haris Rauf over short midwicket
Unfortunately for Shreyas Iyer, Fakhar Zaman used his incredible reflexes to send him packing. India was reeling at 66-4 at one point, but Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya stitched together a much-needed partnership to get India back on track. The pair missed out on century but helped India score a respectable total on a slick Pallekele wicket.
Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur could not contribute much, but India reached 266 with help from Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah. Rain fell during the innings break, causing the game to be delayed. With the DLS technology in play and dew on the ground, it might perhaps wake up the near-dead Pallekele surface for Pakistan’s pursuit.
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