India‘s batting sensation KL Rahul is all ready for the upcoming Asia Cup clash against Pakistan as the Men in Blue prepare for the high-voltage encounter. Rahul, having missed the group stage of the Asia Cup, is in line to take a position in the middle-order for the Super Four clash. India will start their Super Four campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 10 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where Rahul is expected to make his comeback.

<h2>Rahul happy to be back in team</h2>

“I'm happy to come back into the team and get back the rhythm of being in the middle, playing 100 overs, keeping for 50 overs. I’m fighting for as long as I need to, just getting back that adrenaline of being back on the cricket field. We're playing the best tournaments outside of the World Cup. We're playing some quality teams in the next week, 10 days. So I'm very excited about that. I've prepared really well. I'm confident about myself,” Rahul said on BCCI.TV.

This will be the 31-year-old’s first match for Team India since March, having missed the West Indies and Ireland tours. He was also not available for the final phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) where Krunal Pandya deputised for him. Rahul’s availability will be a big boost for India but raising question marks on who will come in the Playing XI.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-pakistan-name-playing-xi-for-super-four-match-vs-india-replaces-this-player-from-group-stage-clash-634230">Asia Cup: Pakistan name Playing XI for Super Four match vs India, replaces THIS player from group stage clash</a>

<h2>Shreyas Iyer to sit out?</h2>

Rahul’s inclusion in the team could likely give a good headache to the team management either Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan could stay way. Considering Ishan’s form in recent times, he is unlikely to be dropped, having scored four consecutive fifties when he has taken to the field in the ODI format recently. On the flip side, the likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill remain the first names on the sheet.

Rahul will have to take advantage of the situation with competition for places as Suryakumar Yadav is also waiting in the wings. Rahul’s wicketkeeping ability will also be under scanner as he tries to force his way into the team.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India‘s batting sensation KL Rahul is all ready for the upcoming Asia Cup clash against Pakistan as the Men in Blue prepare for the high-voltage encounter. Rahul, having missed the group stage of the Asia Cup, is in line to take a position in the middle-order for the Super Four clash.

India‘s batting sensation KL Rahul is all ready for the upcoming Asia Cup clash against Pakistan as the Men in Blue prepare for the high-voltage encounter. Rahul, having missed the group stage of the Asia Cup, is in line to take a position in the middle-order for the Super Four clash. India will start their Super Four campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 10 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where Rahul is expected to make his comeback. Rahul happy to be back in team “I'm happy to come back into the team and get back the rhythm of being in the middle, playing 100 overs, keeping for 50 overs. I’m fighting for as long as I need to, just getting back that adrenaline of being back on the cricket field. We're playing the best tournaments outside of the World Cup. We're playing some quality teams in the next week, 10 days. So I'm very excited about that. I've prepared really well. I'm confident about myself,” Rahul said on BCCI.TV. This will be the 31-year-old’s first match for Team India since March, having missed the West Indies and Ireland tours. He was also not available for the final phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) where Krunal Pandya deputised for him. Rahul’s availability will be a big boost for India but raising question marks on who will come in the Playing XI. ALSO READ | Asia Cup: Pakistan name Playing XI for Super Four match vs India, replaces THIS player from group stage clash Shreyas Iyer to sit out? Rahul’s inclusion in the team could likely give a good headache to the team management either Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan could stay way. Considering Ishan’s form in recent times, he is unlikely to be dropped, having scored four consecutive fifties when he has taken to the field in the ODI format recently. On the flip side, the likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill remain the first names on the sheet. Rahul will have to take advantage of the situation with competition for places as Suryakumar Yadav is also waiting in the wings. Rahul’s wicketkeeping ability will also be under scanner as he tries to force his way into the team. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul ready for Pakistan clash in Super Four stage, says 'I'm confident about myself'

Former India opener Aakash Chopra was full of praise for Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan after he helped his side start on a positive note in the Super Four leg of Asia Cup 2023. Rizwan’s unbeaten 63 coupled with Imam-ul-Haq’s well-made 78-run knock helped Pakistan register a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh on Wednesday, September 6 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

<h2>Chopra full of praise for Rizwan</h2>

"Mohammad Rizwan - I like this player a lot. He is a warrior and he keeps fighting. The more pressure you put on him, the more he flourishes. Whether you play him in T20Is, ODIs or Tests, somehow whenever Pakistan are struggling, it brings the best out of him,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Pakistan needed Rizwan and Co to be at their fluent best in the first Super Four clash as they continued their winning momentum. Rizwan in particular has been in great touch for the side, having scored five fifties in the ODI format since the turn of the year.

"Here also he stayed till the end and won them the match. He played very good sweeps and danced down the wicket to hit over cover. He plays spin extremely well and he has a very good pick-up shot against fast bowling. So Mohammad Rizwan is actually a very, very good player."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2023-aryna-sabalenka-beats-chinas-zheng-qinwen-to-reach-semi-finals-633071">US Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats China's Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals</a>

<h2>India vs Pakistan clash on cards</h2>

Rizwan’s next challenge will be against India in the high-voltage clash on Sunday, September 10. Pakistan were at their fluent best with the ball in the group stage meeting as they attempted to beat India for the sixth time in the tournament. However, the contest was called off due to rain.

Sunday’s clash will be the 15th meeting between the sides at the continental event with India leading 7-5 in the head-to-head tally. India qualified for the Super Four after beating Nepal by 10 wickets in a rain-curtailed contest while Pakistan beat the same opposition by 238 runs. The superior net run rate saw the co-hosts qualify as group winners for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra was full of praise for Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan after he helped his side start on a positive note in the Super Four leg of Asia Cup 2023.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra was full of praise for Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan after he helped his side start on a positive note in the Super Four leg of Asia Cup 2023. Rizwan’s unbeaten 63 coupled with Imam-ul-Haq’s well-made 78-run knock helped Pakistan register a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh on Wednesday, September 6 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Chopra full of praise for Rizwan "Mohammad Rizwan - I like this player a lot. He is a warrior and he keeps fighting. The more pressure you put on him, the more he flourishes. Whether you play him in T20Is, ODIs or Tests, somehow whenever Pakistan are struggling, it brings the best out of him,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. Pakistan needed Rizwan and Co to be at their fluent best in the first Super Four clash as they continued their winning momentum. Rizwan in particular has been in great touch for the side, having scored five fifties in the ODI format since the turn of the year. "Here also he stayed till the end and won them the match. He played very good sweeps and danced down the wicket to hit over cover. He plays spin extremely well and he has a very good pick-up shot against fast bowling. So Mohammad Rizwan is actually a very, very good player." ALSO READ | US Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats China's Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals India vs Pakistan clash on cards Rizwan’s next challenge will be against India in the high-voltage clash on Sunday, September 10. Pakistan were at their fluent best with the ball in the group stage meeting as they attempted to beat India for the sixth time in the tournament. However, the contest was called off due to rain. Sunday’s clash will be the 15th meeting between the sides at the continental event with India leading 7-5 in the head-to-head tally. India qualified for the Super Four after beating Nepal by 10 wickets in a rain-curtailed contest while Pakistan beat the same opposition by 238 runs. The superior net run rate saw the co-hosts qualify as group winners for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: Former opener lauds Mohammad Rizwan before India clash, claims 'he is a warrior'

After their tournament-opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan ended with rain having the final say&nbsp;on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy, Rohit Sharma-led India locked horns with Nepal in their final group stage game of Asia Cup 2023 on Monday (September 04). In another rain-marred contest, in Pallekele, Kandy, India were stretched with the ball&nbsp;by the inexperienced Nepal -- in what was both sides' first-ever international face-off -- but eventually won by ten wickets (DLS method).

With the convincing win, Rohit &amp; Co. have entered the Super Four of the continental tournament, along with Pakistan from their group (Group A). In their first game of the next round, they will once again lock horns with the Men in Green on September 10. The venue is likely to be switched from Colombo to Hambantota due to the rain forecast.&nbsp;

Talking about Monday's contest, India opted to bowl first. While the bowlers produced enough chances, India were sloppy and dropped three catches in the powerplays to give Nepal a good start. Openers Aasif Sheikh (58) and Kushal Bhurtel (38) stitched an impressive 65-run opening stand. Riding on Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja's breakthroughs, India reduced Nepal to 144 for 6 but handy runs from Gulsan Jha (23), Dipendra Singh (29) and Sompal Kami (48) propelled Nepal to 230 all-out in 48.2 overs.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-pakistan-fans-were-chanting-anti-india-slogans-gautam-gambhir-reacts-to-his-obscene-action-632327">Asia Cup: 'Pakistan fans were chanting anti-India slogans' - Gautam Gambhir reacts to his obscene action</a>

India's run-chase began with a lengthy rain break. At that time, they were 17 for no loss in 2.1 overs before&nbsp;rain made its presence felt once again. After a long delay, the revised target was 145 in 23 overs. After the break, Nepal continued to make it tight for India but Shubman Gill started the counterattack before Rohit came to his elements, targetting the experienced Sandeep Lamicchanne, Sompal, and Dipendra.&nbsp;

Rohit-Gill used their experience to dent Nepal's hopes in a jiffy. Hitman, who attained a special feat of over 250-plus sixes as an opener (252*), remained unbeaten on 74* whereas Gill ended with a sublime 67* to stitch an unbroken 147-run stand in 20.1 overs. India's top-order was tested against Pakistan pacers&nbsp;but Rohit-Gill will be feeling much better after their dominant show versus Nepal.

India face Pakistan on September 10 with the venue likely to be changed from Colombo.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

After their tournament-opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan ended with rain having the final say on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy, Rohit Sharma-led India locked horns with Nepal in their final group stage game of Asia Cup 2023 on Monday (September 04).

After their tournament-opener versus arch-rivals Pakistan ended with rain having the final say on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy, Rohit Sharma-led India locked horns with Nepal in their final group stage game of Asia Cup 2023 on Monday (September 04). In another rain-marred contest, in Pallekele, Kandy, India were stretched with the ball by the inexperienced Nepal -- in what was both sides' first-ever international face-off -- but eventually won by ten wickets (DLS method). With the convincing win, Rohit & Co. have entered the Super Four of the continental tournament, along with Pakistan from their group (Group A). In their first game of the next round, they will once again lock horns with the Men in Green on September 10. The venue is likely to be switched from Colombo to Hambantota due to the rain forecast. Talking about Monday's contest, India opted to bowl first. While the bowlers produced enough chances, India were sloppy and dropped three catches in the powerplays to give Nepal a good start. Openers Aasif Sheikh (58) and Kushal Bhurtel (38) stitched an impressive 65-run opening stand. Riding on Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja's breakthroughs, India reduced Nepal to 144 for 6 but handy runs from Gulsan Jha (23), Dipendra Singh (29) and Sompal Kami (48) propelled Nepal to 230 all-out in 48.2 overs. Also read: Asia Cup: 'Pakistan fans were chanting anti-India slogans' - Gautam Gambhir reacts to his obscene action India's run-chase began with a lengthy rain break. At that time, they were 17 for no loss in 2.1 overs before rain made its presence felt once again. After a long delay, the revised target was 145 in 23 overs. After the break, Nepal continued to make it tight for India but Shubman Gill started the counterattack before Rohit came to his elements, targetting the experienced Sandeep Lamicchanne, Sompal, and Dipendra. Rohit-Gill used their experience to dent Nepal's hopes in a jiffy. Hitman, who attained a special feat of over 250-plus sixes as an opener (252*), remained unbeaten on 74* whereas Gill ended with a sublime 67* to stitch an unbroken 147-run stand in 20.1 overs. India's top-order was tested against Pakistan pacers but Rohit-Gill will be feeling much better after their dominant show versus Nepal. India face Pakistan on September 10 with the venue likely to be changed from Colombo. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: India beat spirited Nepal in rain-marred clash to enter Super Four, to face Pakistan on Sep 10

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has made heads turn during the ongoing Asia Cup. Currently part of the commentary panel of the continental tournament, Gambhir is in the news for showing the middle finger to a section of the crowd during the rain-abandoned India-Pakistan group stage clash, in Kandy, on Saturday (September 02). The video went viral where fans were allegedly taunting Gambhir by chanting Virat Kohli's name (with whom he had a spat during IPL 2023) before the ex-cricketer made the obscene action.

However, Gambhir has explained his actions and made a big claim. The 2011 ODI World Cup-winning member claimed that not everything is shown on social media, alleging anti-India chants from Pakistan supporters in the crowd prompted him to make the controversial gesture. Thus, his action&nbsp;had nothing to do with Kohli chants.

<h2>'I can't hear things being said about my country'</h2>

Talking to the media on Monday (September 04), during&nbsp;India's final group stage game versus Nepal in Kandy, Gambhir said, "Whatever is shown on social media, there is no truth to it. People show what they want to show on social media. What actually happened was there were anti-India slogans being chanted, I heard chants of 'Hindustan Murdabad'. There were slogans about Kashmir also. So there will obviously be a reaction, one way or the other or laugh at it. There were a couple of Pakistani people... they were shouting anti-India stuff. Obviously, it was a natural reaction. I can't hear things being said about my country."

Gambhir further asserted, "That's why that reaction came out. If you talk bad about the country, what do expect me to do? Should I smile and go away or keep quiet? I am not that kind of a person. I just want to say this, when you have come to watch a match, support your team. There's no need to give political reactions there. There is no need to bring up Kashmir there. There is no need to speak ill about India. You support your team, your country. There were Indian crowd also, they were supporting their team."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nep-jadeja-equals-irfan-pathan-to-become-indias-joint-most-successful-bowler-in-asia-cup-odis-632309">Ind vs Nep: Ravinda Jadeja equals Irfan Pathan to become India's leading wicket-taker in Asia Cup ODIs</a>

"I am telling this to both sets of fans, when you come to watch a match, support your teams. No need to talk about the country and Kashmir.&nbsp;"Social media don't capture everything," the former Indian opener added.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Kandy, Sri Lanka | On his recent viral video during Asia Cup 2023, former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir says, "What is shown on social media has no truth in it because people show whatever they want to show. The truth about the video that went viral is that if you… <a href="https://t.co/RX4MJVhmyd">pic.twitter.com/RX4MJVhmyd</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1698712472327446875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Gambhir's action has certainly become the talk of the cricketing fraternity amid the ongoing action in the rain-marred Asia Cup. Talking about the multi-nation tournament, jointly being held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Pakistan have qualified for the Super Four from Group A, comprising India and Nepal whereas the Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue need a win over Nepal to proceed ahead. Even if they share points with the lowly-ranked side, they will be through.

From Group B, Bangladesh are pretty much through to the next round whereas Afghanistan need a huge win over Sri Lanka -- on Tuesday (September 05) -- to topple the Islanders and advance ahead. For now, the Lankans and Bangladesh look certain to reach the top four.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has made heads turn during the ongoing Asia Cup. Currently part of the commentary panel of the continental tournament, Gambhir is in the news for showing the middle finger to a section of the crowd during the rain-abandoned India-Pakistan group stage clash, in Kandy, on Saturday (September 02).

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has made heads turn during the ongoing Asia Cup. Currently part of the commentary panel of the continental tournament, Gambhir is in the news for showing the middle finger to a section of the crowd during the rain-abandoned India-Pakistan group stage clash, in Kandy, on Saturday (September 02). The video went viral where fans were allegedly taunting Gambhir by chanting Virat Kohli's name (with whom he had a spat during IPL 2023) before the ex-cricketer made the obscene action. However, Gambhir has explained his actions and made a big claim. The 2011 ODI World Cup-winning member claimed that not everything is shown on social media, alleging anti-India chants from Pakistan supporters in the crowd prompted him to make the controversial gesture. Thus, his action had nothing to do with Kohli chants. 'I can't hear things being said about my country' Talking to the media on Monday (September 04), during India's final group stage game versus Nepal in Kandy, Gambhir said, "Whatever is shown on social media, there is no truth to it. People show what they want to show on social media. What actually happened was there were anti-India slogans being chanted, I heard chants of 'Hindustan Murdabad'. There were slogans about Kashmir also. So there will obviously be a reaction, one way or the other or laugh at it. There were a couple of Pakistani people... they were shouting anti-India stuff. Obviously, it was a natural reaction. I can't hear things being said about my country." Gambhir further asserted, "That's why that reaction came out. If you talk bad about the country, what do expect me to do? Should I smile and go away or keep quiet? I am not that kind of a person. I just want to say this, when you have come to watch a match, support your team. There's no need to give political reactions there. There is no need to bring up Kashmir there. There is no need to speak ill about India. You support your team, your country. There were Indian crowd also, they were supporting their team." Also read: Ind vs Nep: Ravinda Jadeja equals Irfan Pathan to become India's leading wicket-taker in Asia Cup ODIs "I am telling this to both sets of fans, when you come to watch a match, support your teams. No need to talk about the country and Kashmir. "Social media don't capture everything," the former Indian opener added. #WATCH | Kandy, Sri Lanka | On his recent viral video during Asia Cup 2023, former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir says, "What is shown on social media has no truth in it because people show whatever they want to show. The truth about the video that went viral is that if you… pic.twitter.com/RX4MJVhmyd — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2023 × Gambhir's action has certainly become the talk of the cricketing fraternity amid the ongoing action in the rain-marred Asia Cup. Talking about the multi-nation tournament, jointly being held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Pakistan have qualified for the Super Four from Group A, comprising India and Nepal whereas the Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue need a win over Nepal to proceed ahead. Even if they share points with the lowly-ranked side, they will be through. From Group B, Bangladesh are pretty much through to the next round whereas Afghanistan need a huge win over Sri Lanka -- on Tuesday (September 05) -- to topple the Islanders and advance ahead. For now, the Lankans and Bangladesh look certain to reach the top four. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: 'Pakistan fans were chanting anti-India slogans' - Gautam Gambhir reacts to his obscene action

India kicked off their campaign in the Asia Cup by taking on Babar Azam-led Pakistan on September 02 (Saturday) in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Opting to bat first, India were tottering at 27 for 2 and were further reduced to 66 for 4 before Ishan Kishan, batting at No. 5 for injured KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya stitched an impressive 138-run fifth-wicket stand as India managed to recover.

Eventually, Kishan (82) and Hardik (87) enabled India to post 266 all-out in 48.5 overs before rain abandoned the remainder of the game. While India's top-order continued to struggle versus Pakistan's pacers, especially Shaheen Afridi, Kishan gave a good account of himself while batting in a tough situation and was ably supported by white-ball vice-captain Hardik. After the game, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar lauded the 25-year-old despite the youngster missing out on a much-deserved century.

Gavaskar told&nbsp;India Today,&nbsp;"Got to give credit to the young man for coming in a crisis situation and scoring 82 runs and having that partnership. I think if he was discomforted by some injury, it is only natural for him to think that because he cannot run fast between the wickets, he should be looking for the boundary. So that's totally understandable at all. So I wouldn't point a finger at him at all. I would just pat him on the back and say well done to the young man."

Kishan played his shots whenever offered enough room but was very calculative in his approach during his solid stand with Hardik. He took his chances versus the spinners and rotated the strike as well but lost his wicket for 82, dismissed by Haris Rauf in the 38th over. He missed out on a big knock, however, led India's recovery with a lot of maturity.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-fully-fit-jasprit-bumrah-returns-home-ahead-of-indias-second-group-game-reports-632010">Asia Cup: Fully-fit Jasprit Bumrah returns home ahead of India's second group game against Nepal - Reports</a>

Meanwhile, the former Indian opener also heaped praise on Hardik, who top-scored for the Men in Blue with a fine 87. "I think again no praise can be too high for the way he shepherded Ishan Kishan through that partnership. And of course, scoring runs himself hitting the boundaries, picking the ones and twos. And he showed that, you know, in a crisis situation to rise to the occasion, that was terrific innings," Gavaskar added.

On Monday (September 04), India took on lowly-ranked Nepal and the winner will join Pakistan, from Group A, in&nbsp;the Super Four. Talking about Kishan, he has made a strong case for himself, with the BCCI selectors set to name the 15-man provisional squad for next month's home ODI World Cup very soon.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India kicked off their campaign in the Asia Cup by taking on Babar Azam-led Pakistan on September 02 (Saturday) in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Opting to bat first, India were tottering at 27 for 2 and were further reduced to 66 for 4 before Ishan Kishan, batting at No.

India kicked off their campaign in the Asia Cup by taking on Babar Azam-led Pakistan on September 02 (Saturday) in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Opting to bat first, India were tottering at 27 for 2 and were further reduced to 66 for 4 before Ishan Kishan, batting at No. 5 for injured KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya stitched an impressive 138-run fifth-wicket stand as India managed to recover. Eventually, Kishan (82) and Hardik (87) enabled India to post 266 all-out in 48.5 overs before rain abandoned the remainder of the game. While India's top-order continued to struggle versus Pakistan's pacers, especially Shaheen Afridi, Kishan gave a good account of himself while batting in a tough situation and was ably supported by white-ball vice-captain Hardik. After the game, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar lauded the 25-year-old despite the youngster missing out on a much-deserved century. Gavaskar told India Today, "Got to give credit to the young man for coming in a crisis situation and scoring 82 runs and having that partnership. I think if he was discomforted by some injury, it is only natural for him to think that because he cannot run fast between the wickets, he should be looking for the boundary. So that's totally understandable at all. So I wouldn't point a finger at him at all. I would just pat him on the back and say well done to the young man." Kishan played his shots whenever offered enough room but was very calculative in his approach during his solid stand with Hardik. He took his chances versus the spinners and rotated the strike as well but lost his wicket for 82, dismissed by Haris Rauf in the 38th over. He missed out on a big knock, however, led India's recovery with a lot of maturity. Also read: Asia Cup: Fully-fit Jasprit Bumrah returns home ahead of India's second group game against Nepal - Reports Meanwhile, the former Indian opener also heaped praise on Hardik, who top-scored for the Men in Blue with a fine 87. "I think again no praise can be too high for the way he shepherded Ishan Kishan through that partnership. And of course, scoring runs himself hitting the boundaries, picking the ones and twos. And he showed that, you know, in a crisis situation to rise to the occasion, that was terrific innings," Gavaskar added. On Monday (September 04), India took on lowly-ranked Nepal and the winner will join Pakistan, from Group A, in the Super Four. Talking about Kishan, he has made a strong case for himself, with the BCCI selectors set to name the 15-man provisional squad for next month's home ODI World Cup very soon. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wouldn't point a finger at him: Gavaskar in awe of Ishan Kishan after his heroics vs Pakistan in Asia Cup

Rain played spoilsport in the high-voltage contest between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2,&nbsp;in Kandy, and the points were shared by the arch-rivals. The contest was marred by rain from the start after which both teams shared the points resulting in Pakistan securing their place in the Super Four stage. The draw also means India will have to beat Nepal on Monday to clinch a place in the Super Four while an unlikely defeat could see them get knocked out early.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The rain has a final say as the match is Called Off! 
 
Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/hPVV0wT83S">https://t.co/hPVV0wT83S</a> 
 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup2023</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvPAK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/XgEEkjvrC5">pic.twitter.com/XgEEkjvrC5</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1698017304137941368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Rain plays spoilsport</h2>

Asked to chase 267, Pakistan’s innings never started as the rain was the consistent feature on the ground. The ground staff spent more time on the field than the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, and the contest was called off at around 9:40 pm IST. The conditions were deemed not suitable by the umpires and ultimately the decision was taken to call off the contest. The conditions were not suitable for further play and the result was declared a draw with a share of the spoils.

<h2>India make poor start</h2>

Earlier, the Men in Blue did not have the best of starts after rain halted the play initially. Shaheen Afridi wreaked havoc in the top order with quickfire wickets of Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4). With India already on the back foot, Pakistan further increased the pressure as they got the better of Shreyas Iyer (14) and Shubman Gill (10), reducing India to 66/4 in 14 overs. Haris Rauf got the better of the latter pair as he too joined the part for Pakistan.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/javelin-champion-neeraj-chopra-eyes-gold-in-diamond-league-and-asian-games-but-staying-fit-remains-priority-631594">Neeraj Chopra eyes gold in Diamond League final and Asian Games but staying fit remains priority</a>

<h2>Ishan, Hardik save the day</h2>

As India were struggling, Ishan and Hardik built a terrific 138-run stand for the fifth wicket pulling the Men in Blue out of danger. Both the batters were aggressive with their approach as Ishan scored at a strike rate of 101 while Hardik was also scoring at almost 100. Ishan’s 82-run innings included two sixes and nine fours while Hardik’s innings boasted of one six and seven fours.

India will next face Nepal on Monday, with the margin of win to determine India’s position in the group. India will have to beat Nepal by a big margin to win the group but will play their Super Four clash in Sri Lanka if they qualify. Pakistan will travel back to their homeland to play their Super Four clash. An unlikely win for Nepal though could see them qualify for the Super Four at India’s expense.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Rain played spoilsport in the high-voltage contest between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2, in Kandy, and the points were shared by the arch-rivals.

Rain played spoilsport in the high-voltage contest between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2, in Kandy, and the points were shared by the arch-rivals. The contest was marred by rain from the start after which both teams shared the points resulting in Pakistan securing their place in the Super Four stage. The draw also means India will have to beat Nepal on Monday to clinch a place in the Super Four while an unlikely defeat could see them get knocked out early. The rain has a final say as the match is Called Off! Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/hPVV0wT83S #AsiaCup2023 | #TeamIndia | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/XgEEkjvrC5 — BCCI (@BCCI) September 2, 2023 × Rain plays spoilsport Asked to chase 267, Pakistan’s innings never started as the rain was the consistent feature on the ground. The ground staff spent more time on the field than the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, and the contest was called off at around 9:40 pm IST. The conditions were deemed not suitable by the umpires and ultimately the decision was taken to call off the contest. The conditions were not suitable for further play and the result was declared a draw with a share of the spoils. India make poor start Earlier, the Men in Blue did not have the best of starts after rain halted the play initially. Shaheen Afridi wreaked havoc in the top order with quickfire wickets of Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4). With India already on the back foot, Pakistan further increased the pressure as they got the better of Shreyas Iyer (14) and Shubman Gill (10), reducing India to 66/4 in 14 overs. Haris Rauf got the better of the latter pair as he too joined the part for Pakistan. ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra eyes gold in Diamond League final and Asian Games but staying fit remains priority Ishan, Hardik save the day As India were struggling, Ishan and Hardik built a terrific 138-run stand for the fifth wicket pulling the Men in Blue out of danger. Both the batters were aggressive with their approach as Ishan scored at a strike rate of 101 while Hardik was also scoring at almost 100. Ishan’s 82-run innings included two sixes and nine fours while Hardik’s innings boasted of one six and seven fours. India will next face Nepal on Monday, with the margin of win to determine India’s position in the group. India will have to beat Nepal by a big margin to win the group but will play their Super Four clash in Sri Lanka if they qualify. Pakistan will travel back to their homeland to play their Super Four clash. An unlikely win for Nepal though could see them qualify for the Super Four at India’s expense. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: Rain plays spoilsport in Kandy as Ind vs Pak contest called off; Pakistan clinch Super Four spot

India reached a respectable total in their innings in the high-voltage clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2. After a disappointing start to the contest for Rohit Sharma’s men at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, a mature&nbsp;innings of 87 runs from Hardik Pandya and an 82-run knock from Ishan Kishan helped India reach 266 in 48.5 overs. For Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi wreaked havoc after he scalped four wickets while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf ended with three wickets each.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Innings Break! 
 
A solid show with the bat from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>! 👌 👌 
 
8⃣7⃣ for vice-captain <a href="https://twitter.com/hardikpandya7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hardikpandya7</a> 
8⃣2⃣ for <a href="https://twitter.com/ishankishan51?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ishankishan51</a> 
 
Over to our bowlers now 👍 👍 
 
Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/hPVV0wT83S">https://t.co/hPVV0wT83S</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsiaCup23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsiaCup23</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvPAK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/15SNzWM0k1">pic.twitter.com/15SNzWM0k1</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1697979640068071536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>India make poor start</h2>

The Men in Blue did not have the best of starts after rain halted the play initially. However, Shaheen Afridi would then wreak havoc with quickfire wickets of Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4). With India on the back foot, Pakistan further increased the pressure as they got the better of Shreyas Iyer (14) and Shubman Gill (10) reducing India to 66/4 in 14 overs. Haris Rauf got the better of the latter pair as he too joined the part for Pakistan.

<h2>Ishan, Hardik save India’s day</h2>

As India were struggling, Ishan and Hardik built a terrific 138-run stand for the fifth wicket as the Men in Blue came out of danger. Both the batters were aggressive with their approach as Ishan scored at a strike rate of 101 while Hardik was also scoring at almost 100. Ishan’s 82-run innings contained two sixes and nine fours while Hardik’s innings included one six and seven fours.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/javelin-champion-neeraj-chopra-eyes-gold-in-diamond-league-and-asian-games-but-staying-fit-remains-priority-631594">Neeraj Chopra eyes gold in Diamond League final and Asian Games but staying fit remains priority</a>

The Mumbai Indians batter justified his selection in the team and also became the fourth wicketkeeper to score a fifty against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, joining MS Dhoni. It was also Ishan’s fourth consecutive fifty in the 50-over format, having scored three during three during the West Indies tour.

On the other hand, once Ishan and Hardik were dismissed Pakistan were back in the contest as Afridi added two more wickets to his tally. Haris Rauf also added one more to his tally while Nassem Shah was also excellent in his approach with three wickets. Interestingly, all the 10 wickets for Pakistan were scalped by pacers, highlighting their dominance with the ball.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India reached a respectable total in their innings in the high-voltage clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2. After a disappointing start to the contest for Rohit Sharma’s men at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, a mature innings of 87 runs from Hardik Pandya and an 82-run knock from Ishan Kishan helped India reach 266 in 48.

India reached a respectable total in their innings in the high-voltage clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2. After a disappointing start to the contest for Rohit Sharma’s men at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, a mature innings of 87 runs from Hardik Pandya and an 82-run knock from Ishan Kishan helped India reach 266 in 48.5 overs. For Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi wreaked havoc after he scalped four wickets while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf ended with three wickets each. Innings Break! A solid show with the bat from #TeamIndia! 👌 👌 8⃣7⃣ for vice-captain @hardikpandya7 8⃣2⃣ for @ishankishan51 Over to our bowlers now 👍 👍 Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/hPVV0wT83S#AsiaCup23 | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/15SNzWM0k1 — BCCI (@BCCI) September 2, 2023 × India make poor start The Men in Blue did not have the best of starts after rain halted the play initially. However, Shaheen Afridi would then wreak havoc with quickfire wickets of Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4). With India on the back foot, Pakistan further increased the pressure as they got the better of Shreyas Iyer (14) and Shubman Gill (10) reducing India to 66/4 in 14 overs. Haris Rauf got the better of the latter pair as he too joined the part for Pakistan. Ishan, Hardik save India’s day As India were struggling, Ishan and Hardik built a terrific 138-run stand for the fifth wicket as the Men in Blue came out of danger. Both the batters were aggressive with their approach as Ishan scored at a strike rate of 101 while Hardik was also scoring at almost 100. Ishan’s 82-run innings contained two sixes and nine fours while Hardik’s innings included one six and seven fours. ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra eyes gold in Diamond League final and Asian Games but staying fit remains priority The Mumbai Indians batter justified his selection in the team and also became the fourth wicketkeeper to score a fifty against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, joining MS Dhoni. It was also Ishan’s fourth consecutive fifty in the 50-over format, having scored three during three during the West Indies tour. On the other hand, once Ishan and Hardik were dismissed Pakistan were back in the contest as Afridi added two more wickets to his tally. Haris Rauf also added one more to his tally while Nassem Shah was also excellent in his approach with three wickets. Interestingly, all the 10 wickets for Pakistan were scalped by pacers, highlighting their dominance with the ball. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: Ishan, Hardik lead India to respectable total after Shaheen Afridi wreaks havoc with ball

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the Indian team’s selection in the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. India who opted to choose Shradul Thakur over Mohammed Shami for the clash started on a poor note as they lost star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma early in the innings. According to Manjrekar, India may have missed out on a trick by not playing Mohammed Shami as they lacked confidence in their current batting line-up.

<h2>Manjrekar questions selection</h2>

"Hearing murmurs that India wanted batting depth. But nobody is talking about bowling depth. Shardul Thakur is in and I am slightly against this thought. Is Mohammed Shami more a threat to Pakistan batters or Shardul Thakur?

"I wouldn't worry about batting depth. Somebody like a Shami on this pitch, especially when we have seen the ball moving around India should have gone in with 3 genuine bowlers - Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj, just like Pakistan have done," Manjrekar told Star Sports.

India opted to choose Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav as natural bowling options while Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur came in as bowling all-rounder options in the team. India also opted to bring in Shreyas Iyer in the team having missed the last few months due to injury. India also opted to go for Ishan Kishan as a natural wicketkeeper option with KL Rahul not available for the group stage. This prompted India to drop Suryakumar Yadav in the Playing XI.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/javelin-champion-neeraj-chopra-eyes-gold-in-diamond-league-and-asian-games-but-staying-fit-remains-priority-631594">Neeraj Chopra eyes gold in Diamond League final and Asian Games but staying fit remains priority</a>

<h2>India make poor start</h2>

At the time of writing, India were 111/4 with Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya in the middle. The Men in Blue lost Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4) early while Shreyas Iyer scored 14 on his return to the Indian team. Shubman Gill stayed in the middle for India but ultimately was dismissed for 10. For Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf both scalped two wickets each to give the Men in Green a good start.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the Indian team’s selection in the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the Indian team’s selection in the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. India who opted to choose Shradul Thakur over Mohammed Shami for the clash started on a poor note as they lost star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma early in the innings. According to Manjrekar, India may have missed out on a trick by not playing Mohammed Shami as they lacked confidence in their current batting line-up. Manjrekar questions selection "Hearing murmurs that India wanted batting depth. But nobody is talking about bowling depth. Shardul Thakur is in and I am slightly against this thought. Is Mohammed Shami more a threat to Pakistan batters or Shardul Thakur? "I wouldn't worry about batting depth. Somebody like a Shami on this pitch, especially when we have seen the ball moving around India should have gone in with 3 genuine bowlers - Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj, just like Pakistan have done," Manjrekar told Star Sports. India opted to choose Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav as natural bowling options while Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur came in as bowling all-rounder options in the team. India also opted to bring in Shreyas Iyer in the team having missed the last few months due to injury. India also opted to go for Ishan Kishan as a natural wicketkeeper option with KL Rahul not available for the group stage. This prompted India to drop Suryakumar Yadav in the Playing XI. ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra eyes gold in Diamond League final and Asian Games but staying fit remains priority India make poor start At the time of writing, India were 111/4 with Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya in the middle. The Men in Blue lost Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4) early while Shreyas Iyer scored 14 on his return to the Indian team. Shubman Gill stayed in the middle for India but ultimately was dismissed for 10. For Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf both scalped two wickets each to give the Men in Green a good start. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: Former cricketer questions India's Playing XI vs Pak, says 'this shows signs of insecurity'

IND vs PAK Head to Head Asia Cup 2023: The most awaited match of Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan, is all set to happen tomorrow (Sept 02) at Sri Lanka's Pallekel International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. This will be India's first match in the current series, while Pakistan started their Asia Cup 2023 journey on a victory note, defeating Nepal. The team won by 234 runs. Both India and Pakistan are in Group A.&nbsp;

While fans are looking forward to the India vs Pakistan clash, there is a slight chance that the match might be postponed due to rain.

Currently, Pakistan is leading the Asia Cup Group A Points Table with 2 points and Group B is led by Sri Lanka. &nbsp;The cricket tournament is being co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan.&nbsp;

Below is all you need to know about IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023:

<h2>IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Match Details:</h2>

Date: 02 Sept, 2023

Time: 3 pm IST, Toss at 2:30 pm IST

Venue: Pallekele International Stadium, Sri Lanka

<h2>IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Head to Head:</h2>

This is the 16th edition of the Asia Cup, it first began in 1984. India and Pakistan have faced each other 13 times, with India leading the race with 7 wins, while Pakistan secured 5 victories.&nbsp;

Matches Played- 13

India Won- 7

Pakistan Won- 5

Tied- 0

No Result- 1

<h2>IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Playing XI:</h2>

Team India:

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.

Team Pakistan:&nbsp;

Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Tayyab Tahir, Abdullah Shafique, Imam Ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.

<h2>IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Live Streaming:</h2>

Where can you watch India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 live in India?

Star Sports Television will be broadcasting the India vs Pakistan match live. The match will be available on the following channels:

Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil SD + HD, Star Sports 1 Telugu SD+HD, Star Sports 1 Kannada

Where can you watch IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 live in India for Free?

Fans can livestream the match between India and Pakistan for free on the Disney Hotstar+ app and website.&nbsp;

Here's a list of broadcasters of the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 in your country:

Pakistan: PTV Sports and Ten Sports&nbsp;

Bangladesh: Gazi TV

United Kingdom: TNT Sports app

Australia: Fox Sports and FOXTel app

South Africa: SuperSport

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

IND vs PAK Head to Head Asia Cup 2023: The most awaited match of Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan, is all set to happen tomorrow (Sept 02) at Sri Lanka's Pallekel International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.

IND vs PAK Head to Head Asia Cup 2023: The most awaited match of Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan, is all set to happen tomorrow (Sept 02) at Sri Lanka's Pallekel International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. This will be India's first match in the current series, while Pakistan started their Asia Cup 2023 journey on a victory note, defeating Nepal. The team won by 234 runs. Both India and Pakistan are in Group A. While fans are looking forward to the India vs Pakistan clash, there is a slight chance that the match might be postponed due to rain. Currently, Pakistan is leading the Asia Cup Group A Points Table with 2 points and Group B is led by Sri Lanka. The cricket tournament is being co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Below is all you need to know about IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023: IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Match Details: Date: 02 Sept, 2023 Time: 3 pm IST, Toss at 2:30 pm IST Venue: Pallekele International Stadium, Sri Lanka IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Head to Head: This is the 16th edition of the Asia Cup, it first began in 1984. India and Pakistan have faced each other 13 times, with India leading the race with 7 wins, while Pakistan secured 5 victories. Matches Played- 13 India Won- 7 Pakistan Won- 5 Tied- 0 No Result- 1 IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Playing XI: Team India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah. Team Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Tayyab Tahir, Abdullah Shafique, Imam Ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf. IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Live Streaming: Where can you watch India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 live in India? Star Sports Television will be broadcasting the India vs Pakistan match live. The match will be available on the following channels: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil SD + HD, Star Sports 1 Telugu SD+HD, Star Sports 1 Kannada Where can you watch IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 live in India for Free? Fans can livestream the match between India and Pakistan for free on the Disney Hotstar+ app and website. Here's a list of broadcasters of the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 in your country: Pakistan: PTV Sports and Ten Sports Bangladesh: Gazi TV United Kingdom: TNT Sports app Australia: Fox Sports and FOXTel app South Africa: SuperSport (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IND vs PAK Head to Head: Asia Cup 2023 India vs Pakistan match date, time, squads, playing XI & live streaming

India skipper Rohit Sharma has made clear&nbsp;his intentions for the upcoming Asia Cup opener against Pakistan on Saturday, September 2. Rohit has underlined that India are not in for any fitness test for the upcoming ODI World Cup and intend to face Pakistan in a tough contest. The arch-rivals will meet on Saturday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele as India open their campaign in the Asia Cup.

<h2>Not a fitness test</h2>

"By no means, this is a fitness test or any other thing. This is a tournament played between the top 6 Asian teams. It's a very big tournament for all of us, without a doubt. In the past, it has had so much history. So yeah, the fitness test and the fitness camp and all that was done in Bengaluru. Now, we have to move ahead and get out the game face on and see what we can achieve in this tournament," Rohit said in Pallekele&nbsp;on Friday during the pre-match press conference.

Both India and Pakistan will meet in their 14th Asia Cup contest on Saturday with the Men in Blue leading the head-to-head 7-5. India won the group stage meeting at the Asia Cup 2022 when it was played in the T20I format while they lost in the Super Four stage to the same opponent. The Indian team is having a string of injuries despite naming a strong squad for the Asia Cup.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/transfer-deadline-day-live-football-transfer-window-premier-league-bundesliga-manchester-city-chelsea-631180">Transfer Deadline Day Live: Chelsea complete Cole Palmer deal, João Palhinha to Bayern, Højbjerg to Fulham</a>

Rohit’s men will be without KL Rahul for the group stage as he continues his recovery from injury while Shreyas Iyer is yet to have a taste of international cricket since March. India are all set to employ Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper while his opening position remains unknown. It is thought Ishan will play at No.5 with Rohit and Shubman Gill set to open.

In the opposition camp, Pakistan have started the Asia Cup 2023 on a positive note after registering a 238-run win against Nepal in the curtain-raiser clash on Wednesday, August 30. A win for Babar Azam’s men will see them qualify for the Super Four while leaving India and Nepal to tussle for the second spot when they meet on Monday.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India skipper Rohit Sharma has made clear his intentions for the upcoming Asia Cup opener against Pakistan on Saturday, September 2. Rohit has underlined that India are not in for any fitness test for the upcoming ODI World Cup and intend to face Pakistan in a tough contest.

India skipper Rohit Sharma has made clear his intentions for the upcoming Asia Cup opener against Pakistan on Saturday, September 2. Rohit has underlined that India are not in for any fitness test for the upcoming ODI World Cup and intend to face Pakistan in a tough contest. The arch-rivals will meet on Saturday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele as India open their campaign in the Asia Cup. Not a fitness test "By no means, this is a fitness test or any other thing. This is a tournament played between the top 6 Asian teams. It's a very big tournament for all of us, without a doubt. In the past, it has had so much history. So yeah, the fitness test and the fitness camp and all that was done in Bengaluru. Now, we have to move ahead and get out the game face on and see what we can achieve in this tournament," Rohit said in Pallekele on Friday during the pre-match press conference. Both India and Pakistan will meet in their 14th Asia Cup contest on Saturday with the Men in Blue leading the head-to-head 7-5. India won the group stage meeting at the Asia Cup 2022 when it was played in the T20I format while they lost in the Super Four stage to the same opponent. The Indian team is having a string of injuries despite naming a strong squad for the Asia Cup. ALSO READ | Transfer Deadline Day Live: Chelsea complete Cole Palmer deal, João Palhinha to Bayern, Højbjerg to Fulham Rohit’s men will be without KL Rahul for the group stage as he continues his recovery from injury while Shreyas Iyer is yet to have a taste of international cricket since March. India are all set to employ Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper while his opening position remains unknown. It is thought Ishan will play at No.5 with Rohit and Shubman Gill set to open. In the opposition camp, Pakistan have started the Asia Cup 2023 on a positive note after registering a 238-run win against Nepal in the curtain-raiser clash on Wednesday, August 30. A win for Babar Azam’s men will see them qualify for the Super Four while leaving India and Nepal to tussle for the second spot when they meet on Monday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma clears intention before Ind vs Pak clash, says 'this is not a fitness test'

India and Pakistan will face-off in Group A clash of the Asia Cup on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The third game of the ongoing competition, being jointly held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is eagerly awaited as it will see the resumption of the Indo-Pak rivalry after their epic face-off in last year's 2022 T20 World Cup, where the Men in Blue won a humdinger of a clash on the last ball.

With the Asia Cup being held in the 50-over format, as a dress rehearsal for next month's&nbsp;ODI World Cup in India, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will know they have their task cut-out to start with a win over No. 1 ranked side Pakistan. Babar Azam-led Men in Green's recent 3-0 whitewash over Afghanistan propelled them to the top spot and they also started the Asia Cup with a bang, thrashing Nepal by 238 runs in the curtain raise at Multan on Wednesday (August 30).

Talking to the reporters in the pre-match presser, Indian captain Rohit acknowledged Pakistan's white-ball success and said on Friday (September 01), "Pakistan have played really well in recent times in T20Is and ODIs. They worked really hard to be No.1, it'll be a good challenge for us tomorrow."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-hayden-warns-rohit-sharma-ahead-of-shaheen-afridi-battle-picks-winner-of-india-pakistan-tie-631224">Asia Cup: Hayden warns Rohit Sharma ahead of Shaheen Afridi battle, picks winner of India-Pakistan tie</a>

There is a strong possibility of India to face Pakistan as many as three times in this Asia Cup. They are likely to meet in the Super Four, on September 10 in Colombo, and can also lock horns in the tournament finale, to be held on September 17 in Colombo.&nbsp;

It is to be noted that India and Pakistan have never met in the Asia Cup final. Will history rewrite itself this time around? Only time will tell...

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India and Pakistan will face-off in Group A clash of the Asia Cup on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The third game of the ongoing competition, being jointly held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is eagerly awaited as it will see the resumption of the Indo-Pak rivalry after their epic face-off in last year's 2022 T20 World Cup, where the Men in Blue won a humdinger of a clash on the last ball.

India and Pakistan will face-off in Group A clash of the Asia Cup on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The third game of the ongoing competition, being jointly held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is eagerly awaited as it will see the resumption of the Indo-Pak rivalry after their epic face-off in last year's 2022 T20 World Cup, where the Men in Blue won a humdinger of a clash on the last ball. With the Asia Cup being held in the 50-over format, as a dress rehearsal for next month's ODI World Cup in India, Rohit Sharma & Co. will know they have their task cut-out to start with a win over No. 1 ranked side Pakistan. Babar Azam-led Men in Green's recent 3-0 whitewash over Afghanistan propelled them to the top spot and they also started the Asia Cup with a bang, thrashing Nepal by 238 runs in the curtain raise at Multan on Wednesday (August 30). Talking to the reporters in the pre-match presser, Indian captain Rohit acknowledged Pakistan's white-ball success and said on Friday (September 01), "Pakistan have played really well in recent times in T20Is and ODIs. They worked really hard to be No.1, it'll be a good challenge for us tomorrow." Also read: Asia Cup: Hayden warns Rohit Sharma ahead of Shaheen Afridi battle, picks winner of India-Pakistan tie There is a strong possibility of India to face Pakistan as many as three times in this Asia Cup. They are likely to meet in the Super Four, on September 10 in Colombo, and can also lock horns in the tournament finale, to be held on September 17 in Colombo. It is to be noted that India and Pakistan have never met in the Asia Cup final. Will history rewrite itself this time around? Only time will tell... WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: India captain Rohit Sharma heaps praise on No. 1 ODI side Pakistan ahead of mega battle in Kandy

All eyes are now on the India versus Pakistan clash in what will be the third game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 edition. The match will take place in Kandy and is expected to be an enthralling battle between the two arch-rivals. Babar Azam-led Men in Green will be keen to make it two wins in a row, after thrashing Nepal in the tournament-opener, whereas Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will aim for a winning start.

Ahead of the face-off, many former cricketers have shared their take on the mother-of-all-clashes. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has also joined the bandwagon and advised Indian captain Rohit to start cautiously against Shaheen Afridi -- who got the better of him in the 2021 T20 World Cup -- and also picked the winner of the clash.

On Star Sports' Game Plan, Hayden said, "India is playing against Pakistan’s pace trio. Well, I can tell you this is one of the spiciest competitions on the planet. We’ve got Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem. Three very different types of bowlers and unique bowlers which require unique plans from Team India. Firstly, the conditions here in Kandy tend to have quite a lot of bounce, so you’ve got to watch that out, especially Haris Rauf. He’ll want to really hustle in and hit the top of off stump."

"You’ve got to be conservative against Shaheen Afridi. Remember back to the World Cup more recently; Shaheen was able to take early wickets. We’ll never forget that ball that he bowled to captain Rohit Sharma, so a little bit of caution against Shaheen Afridi. If it's swinging, look to play out those first three overs,” he advised.

The 51-year-old further opined, "I think with Naseem, even though he will shape the ball, Pakistan can be in a position to advance forward with India managing to take them out of play by aggressive plays against someone like Naseem. Put him under pressure, feel like you are in front of the game."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-acc-pcb-blasted-by-ex-cricketers-and-fans-after-pakistans-name-goes-missing-from-team-jerseys-631197">Asia Cup: ACC, PCB blasted by ex-cricketers and fans after Pakistan's name goes missing from team jerseys</a>

The Aussie named the winner of the mega contest, citing 'a deeper and classier batting line-up' to aid the victorious side. "All in all, though, I think it’s going to be Team India that’s going to win. I think they’ve got a deeper, classier batting lineup, and I think they’ve got form on the board as well,” said Hayden.

There are high chances of India and Pakistan locking horns thrice overall in this edition of the Asia Cup, in the Super Four and also in the final. The summit clash will take place on September 17 in Colombo. It is to be noted that both the teams have never met in the tournament finale. However, history might be rewritten this time around.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

All eyes are now on the India versus Pakistan clash in what will be the third game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 edition. The match will take place in Kandy and is expected to be an enthralling battle between the two arch-rivals.

All eyes are now on the India versus Pakistan clash in what will be the third game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 edition. The match will take place in Kandy and is expected to be an enthralling battle between the two arch-rivals. Babar Azam-led Men in Green will be keen to make it two wins in a row, after thrashing Nepal in the tournament-opener, whereas Rohit Sharma & Co. will aim for a winning start. Ahead of the face-off, many former cricketers have shared their take on the mother-of-all-clashes. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has also joined the bandwagon and advised Indian captain Rohit to start cautiously against Shaheen Afridi -- who got the better of him in the 2021 T20 World Cup -- and also picked the winner of the clash. On Star Sports' Game Plan, Hayden said, "India is playing against Pakistan’s pace trio. Well, I can tell you this is one of the spiciest competitions on the planet. We’ve got Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem. Three very different types of bowlers and unique bowlers which require unique plans from Team India. Firstly, the conditions here in Kandy tend to have quite a lot of bounce, so you’ve got to watch that out, especially Haris Rauf. He’ll want to really hustle in and hit the top of off stump." "You’ve got to be conservative against Shaheen Afridi. Remember back to the World Cup more recently; Shaheen was able to take early wickets. We’ll never forget that ball that he bowled to captain Rohit Sharma, so a little bit of caution against Shaheen Afridi. If it's swinging, look to play out those first three overs,” he advised. The 51-year-old further opined, "I think with Naseem, even though he will shape the ball, Pakistan can be in a position to advance forward with India managing to take them out of play by aggressive plays against someone like Naseem. Put him under pressure, feel like you are in front of the game." Also read: Asia Cup: ACC, PCB blasted by ex-cricketers and fans after Pakistan's name goes missing from team jerseys The Aussie named the winner of the mega contest, citing 'a deeper and classier batting line-up' to aid the victorious side. "All in all, though, I think it’s going to be Team India that’s going to win. I think they’ve got a deeper, classier batting lineup, and I think they’ve got form on the board as well,” said Hayden. There are high chances of India and Pakistan locking horns thrice overall in this edition of the Asia Cup, in the Super Four and also in the final. The summit clash will take place on September 17 in Colombo. It is to be noted that both the teams have never met in the tournament finale. However, history might be rewritten this time around. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: Hayden warns Rohit Sharma ahead of Shaheen Afridi battle, picks winner of India-Pakistan tie

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in match three of the Asia Cup 2023 edition, on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The two teams will meet each other for the first time since their memorable face-off in last year's T20 World Cup in Australia, where the Men in Blue won by four wickets on the last ball. Ahead of the much-awaited game, former&nbsp;captain and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja named a star batter who should be rested for the India game.

Pakistan started their campaign with a thumping win over Nepal&nbsp;in the tournament opener in Multan on Wednesday (August 30). Riding on Babar Azam's 151 and Iftikhar Ahmed's 109, the Men in Green posted a mammoth 342 for 6 and dismissed Nepal for 104. While everything clicked for the co-hosts, they were off to a poor start at 25 for 2 before Babar&nbsp;and Iftikhar came to the team's rescue.

Despite the early hiccups, Pakistan were at their dominant best. However, Ramiz feels the No. 1 ODI side should rest opener Fakhar Zaman for the India tie. Zaman&nbsp;has scores of 2, 30, 27 and 14 in his last four innings, respectively. Thus, the ex-PCB chief feels 'Zaman is the big problem'.

Ramiz said on his official YouTube channel. "The big problem is Fakhar Zaman. He is an unorthodox hitter, but when someone like that gets out of form, it takes some time to find solutions on the drawing board. He's a bottom-handed player, plays on the leg-side, somehow he adjusts with that and scores."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/only-he-couldve-done-that-shadab-recalls-kohlis-t20-wc-masterclass-before-india-vs-pakistan-asia-cup-tie-631120">'Only he could've done that': Shadab recalls Kohli's T20 WC masterclass before India vs Pakistan Asia Cup tie</a>

He added, “He played three matches against Afghanistan and couldn't make a mark as well. His body language is suffering, and Pakistan need an in-form opener. If Imam also gets dismissed cheaply, it creates pressure. Pakistan need to assess Fakhar. I believe they should rest him, give him some time out. Sidelining him is better for him as well as the Pakistan side. He's a good player, Pakistan has given him chances. But against India, with the form that he has, that chance is not worth being taken.”

It is to be noted that Zaman hasn't made it big in the last few innings but still has been among runs in the recent past. In the last 15 innings, he has four tons and a half-century under his belt. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan tinker with their winning combination and 'rest' Zaman, whose maiden ODI century came against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in match three of the Asia Cup 2023 edition, on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The two teams will meet each other for the first time since their memorable face-off in last year's T20 World Cup in Australia, where the Men in Blue won by four wickets on the last ball.

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in match three of the Asia Cup 2023 edition, on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The two teams will meet each other for the first time since their memorable face-off in last year's T20 World Cup in Australia, where the Men in Blue won by four wickets on the last ball. Ahead of the much-awaited game, former captain and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja named a star batter who should be rested for the India game. Pakistan started their campaign with a thumping win over Nepal in the tournament opener in Multan on Wednesday (August 30). Riding on Babar Azam's 151 and Iftikhar Ahmed's 109, the Men in Green posted a mammoth 342 for 6 and dismissed Nepal for 104. While everything clicked for the co-hosts, they were off to a poor start at 25 for 2 before Babar and Iftikhar came to the team's rescue. Despite the early hiccups, Pakistan were at their dominant best. However, Ramiz feels the No. 1 ODI side should rest opener Fakhar Zaman for the India tie. Zaman has scores of 2, 30, 27 and 14 in his last four innings, respectively. Thus, the ex-PCB chief feels 'Zaman is the big problem'. Ramiz said on his official YouTube channel. "The big problem is Fakhar Zaman. He is an unorthodox hitter, but when someone like that gets out of form, it takes some time to find solutions on the drawing board. He's a bottom-handed player, plays on the leg-side, somehow he adjusts with that and scores." Also read: 'Only he could've done that': Shadab recalls Kohli's T20 WC masterclass before India vs Pakistan Asia Cup tie He added, “He played three matches against Afghanistan and couldn't make a mark as well. His body language is suffering, and Pakistan need an in-form opener. If Imam also gets dismissed cheaply, it creates pressure. Pakistan need to assess Fakhar. I believe they should rest him, give him some time out. Sidelining him is better for him as well as the Pakistan side. He's a good player, Pakistan has given him chances. But against India, with the form that he has, that chance is not worth being taken.” It is to be noted that Zaman hasn't made it big in the last few innings but still has been among runs in the recent past. In the last 15 innings, he has four tons and a half-century under his belt. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan tinker with their winning combination and 'rest' Zaman, whose maiden ODI century came against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: 'His body language is...': Ramiz Raja feels THIS Pakistan star should be 'rested' for India tie

India and Pakistan will lock horns in match three of the Asia Cup 2023 edition on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The two Asian giants will resume their cricketing rivalry after a memorable face-off in last year's T20 World Cup 2022 edition. Placed in the same group, the two teams met at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and produced a clash for the ages.

Talking about the marquee affair at the MCG, India opted to bowl first and rode on Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh's three-fers to restrict Pakistan to 159 for 8. In reply, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. were tottering at 31 for 4 before Virat Kohli (53-ball 82*) and Hardik (37-ball 40)'s 113-run fifth-wicket stand revived the run-chase. Towards the end, Kohli accelerated with some superb strokeplay to take India home with four wickets in hand in&nbsp;a last-ball win over Babar Azam &amp; Co.

<h2>'Don't think any other batsman in the world could have done that'</h2>

Ahead of the Indo-Pak battle in the group stage of the Asia Cup, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan recalled Kohli's masterclass. "He is a world-class player, definitely. You have to plan a lot to face him. Anyway, in international cricket, there are a lot of mind games, because you definitely have the skill to reach that level. But how you read each other's minds, the bowler and the batter, how they read each other's minds, and it also depends on what the situation is," Shadab said on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues'.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/even-if-we-lose-to-india-former-pakistan-all-rounders-message-to-babar-co-ahead-of-asia-cup-face-off-631107">'Even if we lose to India': Former Pakistan all-rounder's message to Babar &amp; Co. ahead of Asia Cup face-off</a>

"The kind of batsman that Virat Kohli is, the way he has performed against us, even in the last match at the World Cup, I don't think that if any other batsman in the world was in that situation, could have done that to our bowling line-up. And the beauty of it is that he can do this at any stage and at any time," the white-ball vice-captain&nbsp;added.

In the 2022 T20 WC game, Shadab was the most economical bowler for the Men in Green, returning with 4-0-21-0.&nbsp;However, he could not get rid of Kohli. It will be interesting to see if he gets the better of him this time around. Shadab started the continental tournament with a brilliant four-fer versus Nepal.

For Kohli, he will be Rohit-led India's go-to batter in the Asia Cup. Thus, he would like to start afresh and negate the early threat of Pakistan's lethal pace trio -- Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah -- to once again aim for a big score. His ODI&nbsp;record versus the Asian neighbours is very healthy, scoring&nbsp;536 runs -- at&nbsp;48.72 --&nbsp;in 13 innings with two centuries and as many fifties.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India and Pakistan will lock horns in match three of the Asia Cup 2023 edition on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The two Asian giants will resume their cricketing rivalry after a memorable face-off in last year's T20 World Cup 2022 edition.

India and Pakistan will lock horns in match three of the Asia Cup 2023 edition on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. The two Asian giants will resume their cricketing rivalry after a memorable face-off in last year's T20 World Cup 2022 edition. Placed in the same group, the two teams met at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and produced a clash for the ages. Talking about the marquee affair at the MCG, India opted to bowl first and rode on Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh's three-fers to restrict Pakistan to 159 for 8. In reply, Rohit Sharma & Co. were tottering at 31 for 4 before Virat Kohli (53-ball 82*) and Hardik (37-ball 40)'s 113-run fifth-wicket stand revived the run-chase. Towards the end, Kohli accelerated with some superb strokeplay to take India home with four wickets in hand in a last-ball win over Babar Azam & Co. 'Don't think any other batsman in the world could have done that' Ahead of the Indo-Pak battle in the group stage of the Asia Cup, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan recalled Kohli's masterclass. "He is a world-class player, definitely. You have to plan a lot to face him. Anyway, in international cricket, there are a lot of mind games, because you definitely have the skill to reach that level. But how you read each other's minds, the bowler and the batter, how they read each other's minds, and it also depends on what the situation is," Shadab said on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues'. Also read: 'Even if we lose to India': Former Pakistan all-rounder's message to Babar & Co. ahead of Asia Cup face-off "The kind of batsman that Virat Kohli is, the way he has performed against us, even in the last match at the World Cup, I don't think that if any other batsman in the world was in that situation, could have done that to our bowling line-up. And the beauty of it is that he can do this at any stage and at any time," the white-ball vice-captain added. In the 2022 T20 WC game, Shadab was the most economical bowler for the Men in Green, returning with 4-0-21-0. However, he could not get rid of Kohli. It will be interesting to see if he gets the better of him this time around. Shadab started the continental tournament with a brilliant four-fer versus Nepal. For Kohli, he will be Rohit-led India's go-to batter in the Asia Cup. Thus, he would like to start afresh and negate the early threat of Pakistan's lethal pace trio -- Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah -- to once again aim for a big score. His ODI record versus the Asian neighbours is very healthy, scoring 536 runs -- at 48.72 -- in 13 innings with two centuries and as many fifties. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Only he could've done that': Shadab recalls Kohli's T20 WC masterclass before India vs Pakistan Asia Cup tie

The stage is set for the India-Pakistan clash in the third game of Asia Cup 2023. Both teams will lock horns on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. While Babar Azam-led Men in Green&nbsp;thrashed Nepal by 238 runs in the tournament opener in Multan, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will&nbsp;kick off their campaign on Saturday. Ahead of the marquee clash, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has a message for his national side.

While there have been some concerns regarding opener Fakhar Zaman's recent few outings, where he has managed 2, 30, 27 and 14, Pakistan have most of their boxes ticked ahead of the India face-off. There are some talks with regard to Zaman's spot, however, Razzaq feels Pakistan should not tinker their line-up as 'this is the best team'. Moreover, he&nbsp;added that even&nbsp;a loss to India should not change their combination.

Razzaq said on GEO Super, "See, the current Pakistan XI is well-balanced. You have proper batters and all-rounders in the middle order. You have full strength in pace and spin attack. You have everything. You should have the same team, this is the best combination. Even if we lose the match against India, you shouldn't be changing the current team. This is the best team we have."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrahs-return-has-completed-our-bowling-setup-mohammed-shami-ahead-of-pakistan-tie-in-asia-cup-2023-630949">Jasprit Bumrah's return has completed our bowling setup: Mohammed Shami ahead of Pakistan tie in Asia Cup 2023</a>

Talking about Zaman, the left-hander has been in superb form for the past few years. In his last 15 innings, he has four centuries and a fifty. He would like to forget about his recent few failures and revamp in style versus&nbsp;India, against whom he slammed his maiden hundred in Pakistan's famous win in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.

The Indo-Pak clash might be rain-affected as the forecast for Saturday isn't encouraging in Kandy. As per the weather apps, there is a prediction of a minimum of 91% chance of rain. Thus, fans have their fingers crossed&nbsp;for a drastic change in weather to witness a full game.&nbsp;

The stage is set for the India-Pakistan clash in the third game of Asia Cup 2023. Both teams will lock horns on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. While Babar Azam-led Men in Green thrashed Nepal by 238 runs in the tournament opener in Multan, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will kick off their campaign on Saturday.

The stage is set for the India-Pakistan clash in the third game of Asia Cup 2023. Both teams will lock horns on Saturday (September 02) in Kandy. While Babar Azam-led Men in Green thrashed Nepal by 238 runs in the tournament opener in Multan, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will kick off their campaign on Saturday. Ahead of the marquee clash, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has a message for his national side. While there have been some concerns regarding opener Fakhar Zaman's recent few outings, where he has managed 2, 30, 27 and 14, Pakistan have most of their boxes ticked ahead of the India face-off. There are some talks with regard to Zaman's spot, however, Razzaq feels Pakistan should not tinker their line-up as 'this is the best team'. Moreover, he added that even a loss to India should not change their combination. Razzaq said on GEO Super, "See, the current Pakistan XI is well-balanced. You have proper batters and all-rounders in the middle order. You have full strength in pace and spin attack. You have everything. You should have the same team, this is the best combination. Even if we lose the match against India, you shouldn't be changing the current team. This is the best team we have." Also read: Jasprit Bumrah's return has completed our bowling setup: Mohammed Shami ahead of Pakistan tie in Asia Cup 2023 Talking about Zaman, the left-hander has been in superb form for the past few years. In his last 15 innings, he has four centuries and a fifty. He would like to forget about his recent few failures and revamp in style versus India, against whom he slammed his maiden hundred in Pakistan's famous win in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. The Indo-Pak clash might be rain-affected as the forecast for Saturday isn't encouraging in Kandy. As per the weather apps, there is a prediction of a minimum of 91% chance of rain. Thus, fans have their fingers crossed for a drastic change in weather to witness a full game.

'Even if we lose to India': Former Pakistan all-rounder's message to Babar & Co. ahead of Asia Cup face-off

The Asia Cup 2023 edition kicks off on Wednesday evening (August 30) with Babar Azam-led Pakistan hosting Nepal in Multan. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the fans are eagerly excited to see the resumption of India-Pakistan rivalry. There is a strong possibility of fans to be treated with as many as three games between the two arch-rivals as they are likely to meet in the Super Four and can also lock horns in the summit clash, on September 17.&nbsp;

At present, India and Pakistan are in Group A and will meet each other on September 02 (Saturday) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt named his national side as the favourites and feels India are solely dependent on captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.&nbsp;

On his YouTube channel, Butt pointed out, "If we look at India's fast bowling, fitness is a concern. Players have been unfit for a long time, we don't know if they are fragile, will they go full throttle. Apart from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they have youngsters, who have played plenty of cricket but they don't have that much of experience."

He asserted, "India have won matches only when Rohit Sharma has played well or Virat Kohli has done something spectacular. When the onus is on others they have mostly struggled. Pakistan have Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar, Shadab, Shaheen, Haris Rauf. And in my opinion Pakistan have a much larger core group. India too have match-winners like Jadeja, Shami, Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli. But their batting is brittle, if Pakistan pick the two big wickets then the others will have a lot to prove. They have not helped India win matches against Pakistan or in their own."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2023-babar-azam-led-pakistan-announce-playing-xi-for-nepal-clash-mohammad-nawaz-in-usama-mir-out-630332">Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam-led Pakistan announce Playing XI for Nepal clash; Mohammad Nawaz in, Usama Mir out</a>

Butt further opined on where the Men in Green have an 'added advantage' and said, "We have bowlers who can bowl at 90mph, only one or two can touch 90mph, others don't have that much pace. This is an added advantage. We have both type of spinners, fast bowling all-rounder, and he too touches 140kph."

In addition, Butt spoke about Indian youngsters and acknowledged their experience of facing tough situations in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he was quick to add that an Indo-Pak battle is a different ball game altogether and adds more pressure. “There are plenty of expectations from India, hence the pressure is more. And since India have not played against Pakistan for a long time for whatever reasons, their players no matter how much IPL they've played, they don't have the experience of playing in such high-voltage clash.&nbsp;Chahe subah, dopahar, sham IPL khel le&nbsp;(no matter how much you play in the IPL) it does not bring the same pressure, which is during India-Pakistan series,” he added.

The continental tournament is taking place in the 50-over format as the Asian giants are gearing up for the forthcoming ODI World Cup, in India, which kicks off on October 05.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Asia Cup 2023 edition kicks off on Wednesday evening (August 30) with Babar Azam-led Pakistan hosting Nepal in Multan. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the fans are eagerly excited to see the resumption of India-Pakistan rivalry.

The Asia Cup 2023 edition kicks off on Wednesday evening (August 30) with Babar Azam-led Pakistan hosting Nepal in Multan. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the fans are eagerly excited to see the resumption of India-Pakistan rivalry. There is a strong possibility of fans to be treated with as many as three games between the two arch-rivals as they are likely to meet in the Super Four and can also lock horns in the summit clash, on September 17. At present, India and Pakistan are in Group A and will meet each other on September 02 (Saturday) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt named his national side as the favourites and feels India are solely dependent on captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. On his YouTube channel, Butt pointed out, "If we look at India's fast bowling, fitness is a concern. Players have been unfit for a long time, we don't know if they are fragile, will they go full throttle. Apart from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they have youngsters, who have played plenty of cricket but they don't have that much of experience." He asserted, "India have won matches only when Rohit Sharma has played well or Virat Kohli has done something spectacular. When the onus is on others they have mostly struggled. Pakistan have Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar, Shadab, Shaheen, Haris Rauf. And in my opinion Pakistan have a much larger core group. India too have match-winners like Jadeja, Shami, Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli. But their batting is brittle, if Pakistan pick the two big wickets then the others will have a lot to prove. They have not helped India win matches against Pakistan or in their own." Also read: Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam-led Pakistan announce Playing XI for Nepal clash; Mohammad Nawaz in, Usama Mir out Butt further opined on where the Men in Green have an 'added advantage' and said, "We have bowlers who can bowl at 90mph, only one or two can touch 90mph, others don't have that much pace. This is an added advantage. We have both type of spinners, fast bowling all-rounder, and he too touches 140kph." In addition, Butt spoke about Indian youngsters and acknowledged their experience of facing tough situations in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he was quick to add that an Indo-Pak battle is a different ball game altogether and adds more pressure. “There are plenty of expectations from India, hence the pressure is more. And since India have not played against Pakistan for a long time for whatever reasons, their players no matter how much IPL they've played, they don't have the experience of playing in such high-voltage clash. Chahe subah, dopahar, sham IPL khel le (no matter how much you play in the IPL) it does not bring the same pressure, which is during India-Pakistan series,” he added. The continental tournament is taking place in the 50-over format as the Asian giants are gearing up for the forthcoming ODI World Cup, in India, which kicks off on October 05. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'No matter how much IPL you play...': Ex-Pak captain names Babar & Co. favourites ahead of India clash

Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif stated that Pakistan pacers will feel the heat when they come up against Virat Kohli in the forthcoming India-Pakistan group-stage clash in the Asia Cup. The continental tournament got underway on Wednesday (August 30) in Multan, Pakistan with Babar Azam &amp; Co. locking horns with Nepal. The seven-time winners India will kick off their campaign versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Sri Lanka, with the competition being jointly held by the two Asian giants.

Ahead of Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.'s tournament-opener versus their Asian neighbours, Kaif recalled Kohli's masterclass (82 not out) during the last Indo-Pak battle which took place during the initial stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia. Back then, India was on the mat&nbsp;chasing 160 at the MCG, Melbourne and struggling at 31 for 4 before a match-winning 113-run fifth-wicket stand between Kohli and Hardik Pandya (40) revived the run-chase. In the end overs, the former captain took over to guide his side to a memorable four-wicket win on a last-ball thriller.&nbsp;

<h2>'Pakistan&nbsp;will be wary of Virat Kohli and know what a big wicket he is'</h2>

Thus, Kaif feels Kohli will put some pressure on the Shaheen Afridi-led Pakistani pacers in the upcoming clash in Kandy. Speaking to Star Sports, he said, "Kohli's performance in Australia at the T20 World Cup, against Pakistan, he played magnificently. And he is a brilliant batsman when it comes to playing against Pakistan. He takes full responsibility and is a chase master. The form that he had in that World Cup was because of his performances in the Asia Cup (2022), starting from that century he hit against Afghanistan."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-guarantee-kaif-concerned-over-kl-rahuls-fitness-as-india-batter-set-to-miss-kandy-leg-of-asia-cup-630486">'No guarantee...': Kaif concerned over KL Rahul's fitness as India batter set to miss Kandy leg of Asia Cup</a>

He further opined, "Those memories will still linger in the minds of the Pakistani bowlers. They will be wary of Kohli and know what a big wicket he is. They will know that if they get him out, the match becomes a lot easier. But the form he is in, the pressure will always be on the bowlers.

"And the fact that he has played the Pakistani bowlers in their last match at the T20 World Cup, he will know how every Pakistani bowler bowls, whether it is Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, or Haris Rauf. Kohli will know how to play them, he will know what their strengths and weaknesses are. Virat Kohli will be very dangerous against Pakistan," Kaif added.

Kohli has a superb record versus the Men in Green. In the shorter format, the 34-year-old has 536 runs in 13 games at an&nbsp;average of&nbsp;55.11, including five tons and eight half-centuries.&nbsp;

India, Pakistan and Nepal are placed in Pool A whereas Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in the other group in the 50-over competition. The current edition is an ideal dress rehearsal for all the Asian teams, barring Nepal, with&nbsp;the ODI World Cup&nbsp;starting on October 05 in India.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif stated that Pakistan pacers will feel the heat when they come up against Virat Kohli in the forthcoming India-Pakistan group-stage clash in the Asia Cup.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif stated that Pakistan pacers will feel the heat when they come up against Virat Kohli in the forthcoming India-Pakistan group-stage clash in the Asia Cup. The continental tournament got underway on Wednesday (August 30) in Multan, Pakistan with Babar Azam & Co. locking horns with Nepal. The seven-time winners India will kick off their campaign versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Sri Lanka, with the competition being jointly held by the two Asian giants. Ahead of Rohit Sharma & Co.'s tournament-opener versus their Asian neighbours, Kaif recalled Kohli's masterclass (82 not out) during the last Indo-Pak battle which took place during the initial stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia. Back then, India was on the mat chasing 160 at the MCG, Melbourne and struggling at 31 for 4 before a match-winning 113-run fifth-wicket stand between Kohli and Hardik Pandya (40) revived the run-chase. In the end overs, the former captain took over to guide his side to a memorable four-wicket win on a last-ball thriller. 'Pakistan will be wary of Virat Kohli and know what a big wicket he is' Thus, Kaif feels Kohli will put some pressure on the Shaheen Afridi-led Pakistani pacers in the upcoming clash in Kandy. Speaking to Star Sports, he said, "Kohli's performance in Australia at the T20 World Cup, against Pakistan, he played magnificently. And he is a brilliant batsman when it comes to playing against Pakistan. He takes full responsibility and is a chase master. The form that he had in that World Cup was because of his performances in the Asia Cup (2022), starting from that century he hit against Afghanistan." Also read: 'No guarantee...': Kaif concerned over KL Rahul's fitness as India batter set to miss Kandy leg of Asia Cup He further opined, "Those memories will still linger in the minds of the Pakistani bowlers. They will be wary of Kohli and know what a big wicket he is. They will know that if they get him out, the match becomes a lot easier. But the form he is in, the pressure will always be on the bowlers. "And the fact that he has played the Pakistani bowlers in their last match at the T20 World Cup, he will know how every Pakistani bowler bowls, whether it is Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, or Haris Rauf. Kohli will know how to play them, he will know what their strengths and weaknesses are. Virat Kohli will be very dangerous against Pakistan," Kaif added. Kohli has a superb record versus the Men in Green. In the shorter format, the 34-year-old has 536 runs in 13 games at an average of 55.11, including five tons and eight half-centuries. India, Pakistan and Nepal are placed in Pool A whereas Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in the other group in the 50-over competition. The current edition is an ideal dress rehearsal for all the Asian teams, barring Nepal, with the ODI World Cup starting on October 05 in India. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kohli's 82* in T20 World Cup will linger in minds of Pakistan players, feels Kaif ahead of Asia Cup clash

On Tuesday (August 29), Team India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that Indian batter KL Rahul is set to miss the first two games in the Asia Cup. The continental tournament, which will be held in the ODI format in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, gets underway on Wednesday evening (August 30) with co-hosts Babar Azam &amp; Co. taking on Nepal in Multan, Pakistan. Rohit Sharma-led India begin their campaign on September 02, in Pallekele, versus arch-rivals Pakistan. Thus, Rahul will be a big miss for the Men in Blue during their Kandy leg, where they also play Nepal on September 04 (Monday).

It is to be noted that the middle-order batter was named in India's final 17-member squad for the Asia Cup after he recovered from his original injury, i.e. a hip injury he suffered during IPL 2023. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar made it clear that the the 31-year-old has picked up a niggle, unrelated to his original injury, and will be closely monitored for the initial few games in the Asia Cup. With him out of action, Ishan Kishan is a strong contender to replace him in the line-up.

<h2>'The news is not good for Indian fans'</h2>

Ahead of India's Asia Cup opener, versus Pakistan,&nbsp;Mohammed Kaif -- India's former batter -- opined on Rahul's fitness. Speaking to Star Sports, Kaif pointed out, "This means KL Rahul’s injury could aggravate. If he is unfit now, there is no guarantee that he will be fit after two games. The news is not good for Indian fans because Rahul plays very well at No. 5 in ODIs. His stats are very good."

Kaif further stated, "He knows how to shift gears, is able to play big shots, and knows how to stabilize innings. You won’t get a replacement even if you play Ishan Kishan. Apart from wicket-keeping, Rahul also provides a finishing touch."

Rahul has been exceptional for India at No. 5, scoring 742 runs in 18 innings at an average of 53 along with an impressive strike rate of 99.33. Further, he has seven fifties and a solitary ton as well.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-matter-how-much-ipl-you-play-ex-pak-captain-names-babar-co-favourites-ahead-of-india-clash-630453">'No matter how much IPL you play...': Ex-Pak captain names Babar &amp; Co. favourites ahead of India clash</a>

Kaif shared his take on India's likely playing XI after Rahul's absence. While Shubman Gill has struggled with the bat in recent times, managing only 102 runs in the West T20Is, the former cricketer feels he has to be in the top order. “Gill’s form has slightly dropped. He didn’t fare well on the West Indies tour, but I think the Kandy pitch will suit him. He loves pace and bounce. The ball will move, so the challenge will always be there for the top 3," added Kaif.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

On Tuesday (August 29), Team India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that Indian batter KL Rahul is set to miss the first two games in the Asia Cup. The continental tournament, which will be held in the ODI format in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, gets underway on Wednesday evening (August 30) with co-hosts Babar Azam & Co.

On Tuesday (August 29), Team India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that Indian batter KL Rahul is set to miss the first two games in the Asia Cup. The continental tournament, which will be held in the ODI format in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, gets underway on Wednesday evening (August 30) with co-hosts Babar Azam & Co. taking on Nepal in Multan, Pakistan. Rohit Sharma-led India begin their campaign on September 02, in Pallekele, versus arch-rivals Pakistan. Thus, Rahul will be a big miss for the Men in Blue during their Kandy leg, where they also play Nepal on September 04 (Monday). It is to be noted that the middle-order batter was named in India's final 17-member squad for the Asia Cup after he recovered from his original injury, i.e. a hip injury he suffered during IPL 2023. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar made it clear that the the 31-year-old has picked up a niggle, unrelated to his original injury, and will be closely monitored for the initial few games in the Asia Cup. With him out of action, Ishan Kishan is a strong contender to replace him in the line-up. 'The news is not good for Indian fans' Ahead of India's Asia Cup opener, versus Pakistan, Mohammed Kaif -- India's former batter -- opined on Rahul's fitness. Speaking to Star Sports, Kaif pointed out, "This means KL Rahul’s injury could aggravate. If he is unfit now, there is no guarantee that he will be fit after two games. The news is not good for Indian fans because Rahul plays very well at No. 5 in ODIs. His stats are very good." Kaif further stated, "He knows how to shift gears, is able to play big shots, and knows how to stabilize innings. You won’t get a replacement even if you play Ishan Kishan. Apart from wicket-keeping, Rahul also provides a finishing touch." Rahul has been exceptional for India at No. 5, scoring 742 runs in 18 innings at an average of 53 along with an impressive strike rate of 99.33. Further, he has seven fifties and a solitary ton as well. Also read: 'No matter how much IPL you play...': Ex-Pak captain names Babar & Co. favourites ahead of India clash Kaif shared his take on India's likely playing XI after Rahul's absence. While Shubman Gill has struggled with the bat in recent times, managing only 102 runs in the West T20Is, the former cricketer feels he has to be in the top order. “Gill’s form has slightly dropped. He didn’t fare well on the West Indies tour, but I think the Kandy pitch will suit him. He loves pace and bounce. The ball will move, so the challenge will always be there for the top 3," added Kaif. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'No guarantee...': Kaif concerned over KL Rahul's fitness as India batter set to miss Kandy leg of Asia Cup

The Asia Cup 2023 edition is set to kick off on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan. The upcoming edition of the continental tournament will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the whole cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the tournament's commencement, mainly to witness the resumption of India-Pakistan rivalry.

Talking about the 2023 edition, India, Pakistan and Nepal are placed in Group A whereas Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are in Group B. Ahead of the tournament-opener, where Babar Azam &amp; Co. host Nepal, former Pakistan great Wasim Akram opened up on the favourites for the multi-nation competition and feels every team has a chance.

"India versus Pakistan is very important, we know about so much support (teams get), so many eyeballs, so many people (following). But other teams are also here to play so you cannot minus Sri Lanka or Bangladesh," Akram said, as quoted by PTI.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2023-shreyas-iyer-opens-up-on-injury-layoff-says-hes-thrilled-to-be-back-watch-629737">Asia Cup 2023: Shreyas Iyer opens up on injury layoff, says he’s ‘thrilled to be back’ - WATCH</a>

On Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue's squad, Akram opined, "I think they are trying different things, new players especially in the T20 format, also a new captain. They have a balanced squad. But it will not be easy for India or any team."

India's 17-man squad marks the return of middle-order batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer whereas Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are set to feature in the playing XI after a gap of 13 months. The tournament is an ideal dress rehearsal for five out of the six&nbsp;Asian teams who will also take part in the forthcoming ODI World Cup, in India, starting on October 05.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Asia Cup 2023 edition is set to kick off on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan. The upcoming edition of the continental tournament will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the whole cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the tournament's commencement, mainly to witness the resumption of India-Pakistan rivalry.

The Asia Cup 2023 edition is set to kick off on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan. The upcoming edition of the continental tournament will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the whole cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the tournament's commencement, mainly to witness the resumption of India-Pakistan rivalry. Talking about the 2023 edition, India, Pakistan and Nepal are placed in Group A whereas Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are in Group B. Ahead of the tournament-opener, where Babar Azam & Co. host Nepal, former Pakistan great Wasim Akram opened up on the favourites for the multi-nation competition and feels every team has a chance. "India versus Pakistan is very important, we know about so much support (teams get), so many eyeballs, so many people (following). But other teams are also here to play so you cannot minus Sri Lanka or Bangladesh," Akram said, as quoted by PTI. Also read: Asia Cup 2023: Shreyas Iyer opens up on injury layoff, says he’s ‘thrilled to be back’ - WATCH On Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue's squad, Akram opined, "I think they are trying different things, new players especially in the T20 format, also a new captain. They have a balanced squad. But it will not be easy for India or any team." India's 17-man squad marks the return of middle-order batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer whereas Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are set to feature in the playing XI after a gap of 13 months. The tournament is an ideal dress rehearsal for five out of the six Asian teams who will also take part in the forthcoming ODI World Cup, in India, starting on October 05. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Won't be easy for India or any team: Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram on Asia Cup 2023 favourites

The cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the forthcoming Asia Cup, to be jointly held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The tournament begins on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan with the Babar Azam-led Men in Green hosting Nepal. The biggest clash is on September 02 when Rohit Sharma's Team India will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.

India, Pakistan and Nepal are placed in Group A whereas the other group comprises Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It is to be noted that India and Pakistan can meet thrice in the upcoming edition, including the final which will be held on September 17 in Colombo. For now, all eyes are on India's opening clash. Ahead of the continental tournament's commencement, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar picked his India XI.

<h2>'KL Rahul would.....'</h2>

Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo, "My three seamers would be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. Hardik Pandya would be my fourth seamer. My spinners would be Jadeja and Kuldeep. My opener would be Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. No. 3 batter would be Virat Kohli. KL Rahul would play because he is the keeper."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-one-is-a-favourite-in-asia-cup-says-sourav-ganguly-ahead-of-indias-opening-tie-vs-arch-rivals-pakistan-629060">No one is a favourite in Asia Cup, says Sourav Ganguly ahead of India's opening tie vs arch-rivals Pakistan</a>

It is to be noted that when Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selectors named India's squad early this week, the chief selector revealed that Rahul has picked up a niggle while recovering from a thigh injury (the niggle is unrelated to his original injury). Thus, India have kept plenty of options for the middle-order with the inclusion of uncapped player Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav&nbsp;in the final 17. In addition,&nbsp;Sanju Samson is the sole travelling reserve player.

Manjrekar has included Rahul in the playing XI and feels that either Shreyas Iyer or Varma could get the nod in the middle-order. “Either Shreyas Iyer or Tilak Varma could play [in the middle-order]. I am saying this because in India’s first-choice side XI, the first seven (six) batters, including Hardik Pandya, are all right-handers. Somewhere, India will have to fit in a left-hander in Tilak Varma. This is a problem India has,” Manjrekar added.

Both Iyer and Rahul are returning to the Indian team after long injury layoffs, hence, all eyes will be on the duo in the Asia Cup, which will be followed by the home ODI World Cup, beginning on October 05.

<h2>Manjrekar's India XI for Asia Cup clash with Pakistan</h2>

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/ Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

<h3>Here is India’s squad for Asia Cup 2023 –&nbsp;</h3>

Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Prasidh Krishna

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the forthcoming Asia Cup, to be jointly held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The tournament begins on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan with the Babar Azam-led Men in Green hosting Nepal.

The cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the forthcoming Asia Cup, to be jointly held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The tournament begins on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan with the Babar Azam-led Men in Green hosting Nepal. The biggest clash is on September 02 when Rohit Sharma's Team India will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. India, Pakistan and Nepal are placed in Group A whereas the other group comprises Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It is to be noted that India and Pakistan can meet thrice in the upcoming edition, including the final which will be held on September 17 in Colombo. For now, all eyes are on India's opening clash. Ahead of the continental tournament's commencement, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar picked his India XI. 'KL Rahul would.....' Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo, "My three seamers would be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. Hardik Pandya would be my fourth seamer. My spinners would be Jadeja and Kuldeep. My opener would be Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. No. 3 batter would be Virat Kohli. KL Rahul would play because he is the keeper." Also read: No one is a favourite in Asia Cup, says Sourav Ganguly ahead of India's opening tie vs arch-rivals Pakistan It is to be noted that when Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selectors named India's squad early this week, the chief selector revealed that Rahul has picked up a niggle while recovering from a thigh injury (the niggle is unrelated to his original injury). Thus, India have kept plenty of options for the middle-order with the inclusion of uncapped player Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in the final 17. In addition, Sanju Samson is the sole travelling reserve player. Manjrekar has included Rahul in the playing XI and feels that either Shreyas Iyer or Varma could get the nod in the middle-order. “Either Shreyas Iyer or Tilak Varma could play [in the middle-order]. I am saying this because in India’s first-choice side XI, the first seven (six) batters, including Hardik Pandya, are all right-handers. Somewhere, India will have to fit in a left-hander in Tilak Varma. This is a problem India has,” Manjrekar added. Both Iyer and Rahul are returning to the Indian team after long injury layoffs, hence, all eyes will be on the duo in the Asia Cup, which will be followed by the home ODI World Cup, beginning on October 05. Manjrekar's India XI for Asia Cup clash with Pakistan Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/ Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj Here is India’s squad for Asia Cup 2023 – Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Prasidh Krishna WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

No Ishan Kishan! Sanjay Manjrekar picks star-studded India XI for Asia Cup opener vs Pakistan

Pakistan cricket team is riding high on their massive win over Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series opener, where they won the first game by 142 runs. Babar Azam-led Men in Green are taking the ongoing ODIs versus the Afghans as an ideal platform to test themselves ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup,&nbsp;which commences on August 30, and the continental tournament will be followed by the ODI World Cup in India, starting on October 05. Many former cricketers believe Babar &amp; Co. are one of the strongest contenders for both the upcoming multi-nation events.

Ahead of Pakistan's run in the Asia Cup and CWC '23, former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif backed his national side but also issued a warning.

"Pakistan have a great chance (in the World Cup). They have a very potent fast bowling unit. However, it gets neutralised on turning pitches. When it comes to batting, the performances of Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, and Babar Azam have been very good. Then there are Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz. These guys seem to be automatic choices for Pakistan," Latif told&nbsp;Cricket Pakistan.

The former Pakistani cricketer further took a dig at India but feels Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can give an edge to their team over Pakistan. "When you look at India or the other teams, they are struggling. India are struggling with their middle order. I believe Pakistan have a wonderful chance, and they should win the tournament by giving others a tough fight," Latif opined.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ever-since-yuvraj-and-dhoni-retired-he-has-filled-that-slot-ashwin-heaps-praise-on-rahul-ahead-of-asia-cup-628676">Ever since Yuvraj and Dhoni retired, he has filled that slot: Ashwin heaps praise on Rahul ahead of Asia Cup</a>

<h2>'Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are capable of playing big knocks'</h2>

He added, "Out batters are a bit slow during the powerplay, and we don't have power hitters for the death overs. While we are very good with the ball in the powerplay, the main issue is the phase between the 11th and the 40th over. Our spinners haven't been able to take wickets in that period, be it Shadab Khan or Mohammad Nawaz. India, on the other hand, are very strong in the middle overs. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are capable of playing big knocks, and they play at a better strike rate than our top-order batters, which gives India an advantage."

At present, Pakistan are playing Afghanistan in the second and penultimate ODI, in the series being held in Sri Lanka, on Thursday (August 24) at Hambantota. They are the second-ranked ODI side at present and have a chance to create history by winning the Asia Cup as well as the ODI WC in India. They kick off their Asia Cup campaign on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan and will lock horns with Rohit-led India on September 02 in Pallekele as the tournament will be jointly held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In the 50-over World Cup, Babar &amp; Co. commence their campaign on October 06 when they face the Netherlands in Hyderabad.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Pakistan cricket team is riding high on their massive win over Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series opener, where they won the first game by 142 runs. Babar Azam-led Men in Green are taking the ongoing ODIs versus the Afghans as an ideal platform to test themselves ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup, which commences on August 30, and the continental tournament will be followed by the ODI World Cup in India, starting on October 05.

Pakistan cricket team is riding high on their massive win over Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series opener, where they won the first game by 142 runs. Babar Azam-led Men in Green are taking the ongoing ODIs versus the Afghans as an ideal platform to test themselves ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup, which commences on August 30, and the continental tournament will be followed by the ODI World Cup in India, starting on October 05. Many former cricketers believe Babar & Co. are one of the strongest contenders for both the upcoming multi-nation events. Ahead of Pakistan's run in the Asia Cup and CWC '23, former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif backed his national side but also issued a warning. "Pakistan have a great chance (in the World Cup). They have a very potent fast bowling unit. However, it gets neutralised on turning pitches. When it comes to batting, the performances of Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, and Babar Azam have been very good. Then there are Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz. These guys seem to be automatic choices for Pakistan," Latif told Cricket Pakistan. The former Pakistani cricketer further took a dig at India but feels Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can give an edge to their team over Pakistan. "When you look at India or the other teams, they are struggling. India are struggling with their middle order. I believe Pakistan have a wonderful chance, and they should win the tournament by giving others a tough fight," Latif opined. Also read: Ever since Yuvraj and Dhoni retired, he has filled that slot: Ashwin heaps praise on Rahul ahead of Asia Cup 'Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are capable of playing big knocks' He added, "Out batters are a bit slow during the powerplay, and we don't have power hitters for the death overs. While we are very good with the ball in the powerplay, the main issue is the phase between the 11th and the 40th over. Our spinners haven't been able to take wickets in that period, be it Shadab Khan or Mohammad Nawaz. India, on the other hand, are very strong in the middle overs. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are capable of playing big knocks, and they play at a better strike rate than our top-order batters, which gives India an advantage." At present, Pakistan are playing Afghanistan in the second and penultimate ODI, in the series being held in Sri Lanka, on Thursday (August 24) at Hambantota. They are the second-ranked ODI side at present and have a chance to create history by winning the Asia Cup as well as the ODI WC in India. They kick off their Asia Cup campaign on August 30 in Multan, Pakistan and will lock horns with Rohit-led India on September 02 in Pallekele as the tournament will be jointly held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In the 50-over World Cup, Babar & Co. commence their campaign on October 06 when they face the Netherlands in Hyderabad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Rohit, Kohli capable of big knocks': Ex-Pak captain warns Babar & Co. ahead of Asia Cup and CWC '23

Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for India's Asia Cup campaign, where they begin their run versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The last time both sides met each other was during last year's T20 World Cup, held in Australia. Facing each other at the MCG, Melbourne, both sides produced a humdinger of a clash where Kohli made heads turn with his 53-ball 82 not out in India's four-wicket win in pursuit of 160. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recalled the right-hander's masterclass and feels the match was 'all about Kohli'.

<h2>'Cricket gods wanted to do it for Virat Kohli'</h2>

During an interaction with RevSportz, on a day when Kohli is celebrating 15 years of his international debut, Akhtar said, "That match was all about Virat Kohli. The cricket Gods wanted to do it for him. He wasn’t in the best of form and was facing a lot of heat from you guys in India. The media was after him. It was God’s way of telling him – this is your stage, come and become king again. If you see all that transpired – rain and a lot of it, 100,000 people, 1.3 billion Indians watching, 30 crore Pakistanis watching, the whole world in awe – the stage was set for Kohli. It was the greatest stage of all. When you add the two sixes he hit off Haris Rauf, that match gave him back his kingdom. I think it was all destined for him on that day at the MCG."

<h2>No white-ball cricket for Kohli post CWC '23?</h2>

On Kohli's future, Akhtar made a big claim and opined, "I don’t think he should play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup. Also, if you see him in T20s, it takes a lot out of him. I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup, and break this record."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/moment-ms-dhoni-gave-up-captaincy-things-went-south-akhtar-on-indias-icc-title-drought-since-2013-626699">Moment MS Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south: Akhtar on India's ICC title drought since 2013</a>

He added, "Also, there was a lot of chat about him losing captaincy. I don’t read much into it. I actually think it has freed him up. Why did he start playing? He started his cricket to be like Sachin Tendulkar. He has become like Sachin. Scored loads of runs. Now, he should just continue to score runs for his team and win India more and more games. Losing captaincy is actually good for him as a batter, because the pressure of captaincy cripples you."

Recalling India-Pakistan's clash in the 2022 T20 WC, Rohit-led India opted to bowl and rode on Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh's three-fers to restrict Babar Azam &amp; Co. for 159 for 8. In reply, India was tottering at 31 for 4 before Kohli-Hardik's 113-run fifth-wicket stand revived the run-chase. The former Indian skipper remained unbeaten on 82, laced with 6 fours and 4 sixes, to take his side past the finish line in what was a last-ball finish.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for India's Asia Cup campaign, where they begin their run versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.

Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for India's Asia Cup campaign, where they begin their run versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The last time both sides met each other was during last year's T20 World Cup, held in Australia. Facing each other at the MCG, Melbourne, both sides produced a humdinger of a clash where Kohli made heads turn with his 53-ball 82 not out in India's four-wicket win in pursuit of 160. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recalled the right-hander's masterclass and feels the match was 'all about Kohli'. 'Cricket gods wanted to do it for Virat Kohli' During an interaction with RevSportz, on a day when Kohli is celebrating 15 years of his international debut, Akhtar said, "That match was all about Virat Kohli. The cricket Gods wanted to do it for him. He wasn’t in the best of form and was facing a lot of heat from you guys in India. The media was after him. It was God’s way of telling him – this is your stage, come and become king again. If you see all that transpired – rain and a lot of it, 100,000 people, 1.3 billion Indians watching, 30 crore Pakistanis watching, the whole world in awe – the stage was set for Kohli. It was the greatest stage of all. When you add the two sixes he hit off Haris Rauf, that match gave him back his kingdom. I think it was all destined for him on that day at the MCG." No white-ball cricket for Kohli post CWC '23? On Kohli's future, Akhtar made a big claim and opined, "I don’t think he should play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup. Also, if you see him in T20s, it takes a lot out of him. I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup, and break this record." Also read: Moment MS Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south: Akhtar on India's ICC title drought since 2013 He added, "Also, there was a lot of chat about him losing captaincy. I don’t read much into it. I actually think it has freed him up. Why did he start playing? He started his cricket to be like Sachin Tendulkar. He has become like Sachin. Scored loads of runs. Now, he should just continue to score runs for his team and win India more and more games. Losing captaincy is actually good for him as a batter, because the pressure of captaincy cripples you." Recalling India-Pakistan's clash in the 2022 T20 WC, Rohit-led India opted to bowl and rode on Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh's three-fers to restrict Babar Azam & Co. for 159 for 8. In reply, India was tottering at 31 for 4 before Kohli-Hardik's 113-run fifth-wicket stand revived the run-chase. The former Indian skipper remained unbeaten on 82, laced with 6 fours and 4 sixes, to take his side past the finish line in what was a last-ball finish. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'It was God’s way of telling....': Akhtar recalls Virat Kohli's masterclass vs Pakistan in T20 World Cup

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023 edition, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The upcoming continental tournament kicks off on August 30 and arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 02 in Pallekele. The two sides are likely to meet in the Super Four round and can also lock horns in the summit clash, to be held in Colombo on September 17.

Ahead of the tournament, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria feels Babar Azam &amp; Co. have the edge over Team India as the latter are unsettled at the moment.

<h2>'Pakistan have the edge, as India don't look settled at the moment'</h2>

Kaneria said during a live session on his official YouTube channel, "Pakistan have the edge, as India don't look settled at the moment. They don't know which fast bowlers are going to play. In their spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal has been inconsistent. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja should be the three spinners, according to me. If they want a spinner on standby, Ravi Bishnoi should get the nod."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashwin-reacts-after-dravid-left-concerned-with-indias-batting-depth-shares-suggestion-for-cwc-23-625620">Ashwin reacts after Dravid shows concern for India's batting depth, shares suggestion for CWC '23</a>

The former Pakistan spinner further added, "KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been practicing at the NCA and are mostly likely going to be included in India's squad for the upcoming major tournaments. However, you cannot bring someone into the team just on the basis of practice. They will have to play matches and should be added to the team only if they show good form there."

Team India recently ended their all-format tour of West Indies, on August 13, where they won the Test series 1-0 and the three ODIs 2-1 but lost the five T20Is 2-3. A second-stringed Indian team will now tour Ireland, for three T20Is, where Jasprit Bumrah marks his international return since September 2022. The national side will also hope for Iyer and Rahul's comeback ahead of the Asia Cup as their backups, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, continue to remain inconsistent.

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup:&nbsp;Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.

India squad for Asia Cup: Yet to be announced

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023 edition, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The upcoming continental tournament kicks off on August 30 and arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 02 in Pallekele.

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023 edition, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The upcoming continental tournament kicks off on August 30 and arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 02 in Pallekele. The two sides are likely to meet in the Super Four round and can also lock horns in the summit clash, to be held in Colombo on September 17. Ahead of the tournament, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria feels Babar Azam & Co. have the edge over Team India as the latter are unsettled at the moment. 'Pakistan have the edge, as India don't look settled at the moment' Kaneria said during a live session on his official YouTube channel, "Pakistan have the edge, as India don't look settled at the moment. They don't know which fast bowlers are going to play. In their spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal has been inconsistent. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja should be the three spinners, according to me. If they want a spinner on standby, Ravi Bishnoi should get the nod." Also read: Ashwin reacts after Dravid shows concern for India's batting depth, shares suggestion for CWC '23 The former Pakistan spinner further added, "KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been practicing at the NCA and are mostly likely going to be included in India's squad for the upcoming major tournaments. However, you cannot bring someone into the team just on the basis of practice. They will have to play matches and should be added to the team only if they show good form there." Team India recently ended their all-format tour of West Indies, on August 13, where they won the Test series 1-0 and the three ODIs 2-1 but lost the five T20Is 2-3. A second-stringed Indian team will now tour Ireland, for three T20Is, where Jasprit Bumrah marks his international return since September 2022. The national side will also hope for Iyer and Rahul's comeback ahead of the Asia Cup as their backups, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, continue to remain inconsistent. Pakistan squad for Asia Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi. India squad for Asia Cup: Yet to be announced WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan have the edge, India not settled at the moment, feels former spinner Danish Kaneria

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif feels Team India have not done well in recent ICC events due to 'internal issues'. It is to be noted that India have not won an ICC event since their historic triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Their last win in a multi-nation event came during the 2018 Asia Cup, in the UAE. At present, Rohit Sharma-led India are gearing up for the Asia Cup, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which will be followed by the home ODI World Cup, in October-November.

Latif&nbsp;stated that&nbsp;Team India have faltered due to&nbsp;"internal issues",&nbsp;seemingly referring to former captain Virat Kohli's sacking,&nbsp;India's top-order crisis and the perennial No. 4 issue.

<h2>'India couldn't perform due to internal issues'</h2>

On his YouTube channel, the former Pakistan keeper-batter and captain pointed out, "Virat Kohli had a direction and he wanted to win, but he was sacked. The team couldn't perform due to internal issues. They couldn't perform in ICC tournaments because, maybe, the captain didn't get the desired players. Or maybe he got, but they weren't used. Now, there are two big events -- Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the World Cup at home. Their team is still pretty good, they will get a no.4."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-gill-jaiswal-can-become-indias-next-tendulkar-ganguly-uthappas-big-claim-after-4th-t20i-624967">Ind vs WI: 'Gill-Jaiswal can become India's next Tendulkar- Ganguly' - Uthappa's BIG claim after 4th T20I</a>

Highlighting the Men in Blue's problems, Latif mentioned, "The problem begins when the top-3 gets dismissed quickly. If the top-3 play&nbsp;out the 25-30 overs, they will win easily. Their issue is the top-3 isn't performing how it used to. They could've brought back Shikhar Dhawan, you had made him captain less than a year ago during a tour. You had players, you threw them here and there.”

At present, Hardik Pandya-led India is involved in the five T20Is versus West Indies, with the&nbsp;series&nbsp;decider on Sunday (August 13) in Florida. Meanwhile, the national side is simultaneously&nbsp;focused on preparing for the Asia Cup 2023, starting on August 30, which is a dress rehearsal for the ODI World Cup at home.

India have reached four finals and as many semi-finals in all ICC events since 2013, when they last clinched a mega title. Thus, they will be hungry to end the year with a historic ODI WC triumph on home soil and silence all their critics.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif feels Team India have not done well in recent ICC events due to 'internal issues'. It is to be noted that India have not won an ICC event since their historic triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif feels Team India have not done well in recent ICC events due to 'internal issues'. It is to be noted that India have not won an ICC event since their historic triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Their last win in a multi-nation event came during the 2018 Asia Cup, in the UAE. At present, Rohit Sharma-led India are gearing up for the Asia Cup, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which will be followed by the home ODI World Cup, in October-November. Latif stated that Team India have faltered due to "internal issues", seemingly referring to former captain Virat Kohli's sacking, India's top-order crisis and the perennial No. 4 issue. 'India couldn't perform due to internal issues' On his YouTube channel, the former Pakistan keeper-batter and captain pointed out, "Virat Kohli had a direction and he wanted to win, but he was sacked. The team couldn't perform due to internal issues. They couldn't perform in ICC tournaments because, maybe, the captain didn't get the desired players. Or maybe he got, but they weren't used. Now, there are two big events -- Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the World Cup at home. Their team is still pretty good, they will get a no.4." Also read: Ind vs WI: 'Gill-Jaiswal can become India's next Tendulkar- Ganguly' - Uthappa's BIG claim after 4th T20I Highlighting the Men in Blue's problems, Latif mentioned, "The problem begins when the top-3 gets dismissed quickly. If the top-3 play out the 25-30 overs, they will win easily. Their issue is the top-3 isn't performing how it used to. They could've brought back Shikhar Dhawan, you had made him captain less than a year ago during a tour. You had players, you threw them here and there.” At present, Hardik Pandya-led India is involved in the five T20Is versus West Indies, with the series decider on Sunday (August 13) in Florida. Meanwhile, the national side is simultaneously focused on preparing for the Asia Cup 2023, starting on August 30, which is a dress rehearsal for the ODI World Cup at home. India have reached four finals and as many semi-finals in all ICC events since 2013, when they last clinched a mega title. Thus, they will be hungry to end the year with a historic ODI WC triumph on home soil and silence all their critics. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India couldn't perform in ICC tournaments due to internal issues, claims former Pakistan captain

ind-vs-pak

Ind Vs Pak, News on Ind Vs Pak, stories on Ind Vs Pak, articles on Ind Vs Pak, Ind Vs Pak stories at Wion, Ind Vs Pak news, Ind Vs Pak latest news

ind vs-pak