India and Pakistan are set for a highly-anticipated ODI clash, their first encounter since the 2019 World Cup in England.
India triumphed in that memorable match with an 89-run victory. In their last five ODI meetings, India has dominated with a 4-1 lead in head-to-head encounters, with their only loss occurring in the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.
However, the memory of India's triumph in the T20 World Cup last year still lingers for Indian fans. Virat Kohli's potential rematch with Haris Rauf is something many eagerly anticipate.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma will have to contend with Shaheen Shah Afridi's challenging banana inswingers in what promises to be more than just a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.
The Indian squad, which is still piecing together its puzzle, will rely on the formidable trio of skipper Rohit, the extraordinary Kohli, and his successor Shubman Gill to counter the threat posed by Shaheen, Rauf, and the fiery Naseem Shah.
The middle-order for both India and Pakistan remains a topic of interest. India faces additional concern due to KL Rahul's absence, who will miss at least the initial two Asia Cup matches. The Indian team may opt for wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan in the middle-order, but his batting position, whether at No. 4 or No. 5 (likely the latter), remains undecided. Kishan's inclusion adds variety to the Indian batting lineup with his left-handed batting style.
Jasprit Bumrah's return to the squad will be closely watched as it will serve as a significant fitness test, especially considering his recent comeback to competitive cricket.
With the weather forecast predicting moderate to heavy rains for the next three days, there is concern whether there could be anti-climax in store for fans from both cricket-loving countries.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (travelling reserve).
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).
Head-to-head overall record
The two teams have crossed paths in 132 ODI matches, with Pakistan securing 73 victories, India winning 55 times, and four matches ending without a result.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
Location: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Match Start Time: 3:00 PM (IST)
Toss: 2:30 PM (IST)
TV broadcast: The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Group A match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: The India vs PAK clash will be streamed free on the Disney+ Hotstar app
(With PTI inputs)