In a thrilling encounter between India and Nepal at the Asia Cup 2023, the cricketing world witnessed a roller-coaster of emotions, with dramatic catches and an intense DRS review defining the early stages of the match.
Opting to bowl first, India was determined to make early inroads into Nepal’s batting lineup. Mohammed Shami, with the new ball in hand, spearheaded India’s pace attack. However, the opening over of the match unfolded in a manner no one could have predicted.
Team India dropped 3 catches in first 5 over –
The very first over turned into a fielding nightmare for India. Shami bowled a brilliant delivery that found the outside edge of Nepal’s opener, Kushal Bhurtel’s bat. The ball carried comfortably to the slips, where Shreyas Iyer, stationed at the catching position, should have made a straightforward grab. To India’s astonishment, the ball slipped through Iyer’s fingers, gifting Bhurtel a lifeline.
But the drama didn’t end there. The next over, bowled by Mohammed Siraj, saw Indian skipper Virat Kohli drop a seemingly simple catch, further exacerbating India’s fielding woes. It was a sitter that had everyone in disbelief, including Kohli himself.
The calamitous display of fielding continued when Ishan Kishan, India’s wicketkeeper, let an easy chance slip through his gloves. It was a series of blunders that left Indian captain Rohit Sharma visibly frustrated, as they let go of crucial opportunities.
Rohit Sharma hands the ball to Hardik Pandya
After eight overs of pace bowling from Shami and Siraj, Rohit Sharma decided to introduce the dynamic all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, into the attack. The very first delivery from Pandya created a moment of intense excitement. It was a fullish delivery that angled into the batsman, Bhurtel, who missed the flick and was struck on the front pad.
DRS DRAMA!
The appeal was strong, and the on-field umpire raised his finger, sending Bhurtel walking back to the pavilion. However, Bhurtel had different plans. He decided to use the Decision Review System (DRS), putting his trust in technology.
The DRS process unfolded with bated breath. UltraEdge confirmed no bat involved. Then came the moment of truth as ball-tracking determined whether the delivery was hitting the stumps. In a dramatic turn of events, the DRS showed that the ball was marginally missing the leg stump.
Nepal’s batter survived the LBW appeal, leaving the Indian players stunned and the fans on the edge of their seats. It was a thrilling start to what promised to be an exhilarating Asia Cup encounter.