Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are on the edge of their seats as the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2023 approaches, scheduled for September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. However, the impending Balagolla storm threatens to disrupt this cricketing spectacle, casting a shadow of uncertainty. Tickets for the match sold out rapidly, and millions of viewers are poised for an unforgettable encounter, making the prospect of rain disruption all the more dreaded.
The India-Pakistan rivalry could see up to three more encounters if both teams advance to the Super 4 stage and the finals of the Continental Cup. As these cricketing titans typically meet only in Asia Cup and ICC events, the excitement among fans, experts, and critics is palpable.
Sri Lanka is set to host nine matches in total, beginning with the IND vs. PAK clash. While the Asia Cup in Pakistan started without rain interruptions, the same may not hold true for this monumental battle on September 2.
Pakistan has already unveiled its Playing XI on September 1, opting to retain the same squad that trounced Nepal by a staggering 238 runs in their opening game. The absence of KL Rahul in the group games raises questions about whether Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson will be included in India’s Playing XI against Pakistan. Captain Rohit Sharma appears inclined to maintain the top-order stability with Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and himself, suggesting Kishan might feature in the middle-order.
India Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur/Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
