Ahead of the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 showdown between India and Pakistan, star Indian batsman Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma, and pacer Mohammed Siraj extended a friendly gesture by meeting their neighbors. The much-awaited match between Team India and the Men in Green will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka on Saturday, September 2.
A video shared by Pakistan Cricket has taken the internet by storm, showing Virat Kohli interacting with Pakistan’s cricket stars. Kohli engaged in a brief conversation with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma was seen chatting with his counterpart, Babar Azam, and opener Imam Ul Haq after their respective net sessions.
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In the video, Virat Kohli can be seen mingling with several Pakistan players as they prepare for their Asia Cup encounter. This interaction underscores the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie between the two rival teams.
Pakistan and India players meet up ahead of Saturday’s #PAKvIND match in Kandy ✨#AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/iP94wjsX6G
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 1, 2023
Pakistan made a strong start in the Asia Cup, defeating Nepal convincingly and moving closer to the Super Four stage. Captain Babar Azam’s brilliant 151 runs and Iftikhar Ahmed’s maiden ODI century contributed to their victory. With Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan wreaking havoc with the ball, the top-ranked ODI team is currently in an excellent position.
In India’s camp, the return of Shreyas Iyer to the playing XI is a significant development. His comeback is expected to address the long-standing issue of the number four batting position. However, there remains a pressing concern for the team management to address.
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KL Rahul’s absence from the first two matches due to injury means Ishan Kishan is likely to feature in the playing XI. Yet, with the availability of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, determining Kishan’s batting position poses a dilemma. If he opens the innings, it necessitates a complete reshuffle of the batting order, potentially creating complications.
Consequently, the team management must promptly resolve this issue, possibly by having Kishan bat at number five, a role he is less accustomed to. Clearing this uncertainty is crucial for India as they prepare for their Asia Cup campaign.
