It is intriguing to note that the chitter-chatter before an India-Pakistan match isn’t about the game itself. It is more about the current weather in Colombo. It is also about how a reserve day has been added only for the India-Pakistan game.
That seems unfair on other teams. However, when the hype surrounding the tournament is built mostly around two sides playing each other three times, it shouldn’t be a surprise that administrators have kept a reserve day for that game. Incidentally, just a week ago, the two teams had played at the Pallekele Stadium, but it turned out to be a rather damp squib with the game called off due to incessant rain during the second innings.
In whatever action took place, Pakistan’s pace trio – Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah – made a statement by picking up all the 10 wickets to fall. With moisture around, the ball moved off the seam considerably, and Afridi in particular looked lethal. India, however, bounced back with Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya sharing a crucial hundred-plus alliance.
In the Super Fours, the focus would again be on India’s much-vaunted top order going up against Pakistan’s pace troika. In that context, Shubman Gill seemed intent on coming forward in the nets, in order to counter any movement on offer. Gill’s back foot tends to stay leg side, and that could be a reason why his front foot is more on the move. Eventually, he has to play around the front pad.
The focus of the Indian think-tank isn’t just on the key batters, as Kuldeep Yadav also batted for a while in the nets. Incidentally, when the Indian squad was picked for the World Cup, Rohit Sharma had said: “We need to create that depth in batting and bowling. It was lacking in our team the last few years. Our first game here, we fell a little short at the back end. No 8, 9, 10, 11… it is their job too to contribute with the bat.”
Pakistan, their opponent, would be a tad wary about their fifth-bowling option. Faheem Ashraf, who replaced Mohammad Nawaz in their last game against Bangladesh, bowled tidily. But would his brand of scrambled seamers work against India, and at the Premadasa Stadium?
There is also a question mark or two over Fakhar Zaman’s form. After cracking three ODI hundreds in a row, Fakhar has accrued only 159 runs in nine 50-over games. With Pakistan’s middle order not being one of their key strengths, the coaching staff would look towards Fakhar to get back into some kind of groove.
Time and venue details
R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, September 10, 2023. 3:00PM Local
Expected conditions
How about the all-important weather? On Friday and for large parts of Saturday, there wasn’t any rain. Although it went quite dark on Saturday evening. A couple of thunderstorms are expected on Sunday and Monday. It is set to be another slow and sluggish deck at the Premadasa. Even though, under lights, it skids a bit more.
Possible XIs
The major talking point about India’s Playing XI is whether India would pick Kishan or KL Rahul. Both of them batted in the nets on Friday. If you apply logic, Kishan is the man in form and deserves to get the nod. In addition to that, the left-handed Kishan brings some variety to the Indian batting unit and could disrupt the lengths of the Pakistan pace attack. Axar Patel also was seen in the nets. At the Premadasa, he might play ahead of Shardul Thakur.
Jasprit Bumrah is back in Sri Lanka and will slot back into the XI.
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan(w)/KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have announced their Playing XI.
Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
Key matchup: Rohit Sharma v Afridi
By now, it is a known fact that the India captain has had issues against left-arm pace and the angle. Moreover, Afridi dismissed Rohit both in the T20 World Cup 2021 and in Pallekele. The only consolation for Rohit is he didn’t do much wrong in those two games.
In India’s opening fixture of the ongoing Asia Cup, he was done in by two deliveries that beat him on the outside edge. On both occasions, natural variation off the pitch played a key role. Those two deliveries perhaps played on his mind as he was subsequently dislodged by an inswinger. Afridi, though, wouldn’t get much movement off the deck at the Premadasa, especially if India bat first.
Also Read: Lost Jobs, Noor Jehan Ending Careers and Sledging a Bleeding Sachin – India-Pakistan Anecdotes