Top 3 talking points of India vs Pakistan rain interrupted game of Asia Cup 2023

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans during the India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2023. On a fateful Saturday, rain clouds loomed over the stadium, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash. As the relentless rain persisted, hopes of witnessing a thrilling encounter were gradually dampened. Despite that, there are several key points to talk about from the game.

1. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s crucial partnership

Amidst the weather-induced turmoil, it was Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya who emerged as India’s saviors. With India struggling at just 66 runs after losing their top-order batters to Shaheen Afridi, Kishan and Pandya unleashed a remarkable partnership. Hardik Pandya, in his innings, aggressively scored 87 off 93 balls, punctuated by seven fours and a six.

On the other hand, Ishan Kishan, in his innings, composed 82 off 81 deliveries. Their amazing partnership steered India out of trouble. Their exceptional partnership allowed India to post a commendable total of 266 runs before the rain ultimately forced the match to be called off, leaving fans on both sides yearning for a showdown that never reached its climax.

2. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s vulnerability against the left-arm pacer

In the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan, India’s vulnerability against left-arm pacers came into sharp focus. The left-arm maestro, Shaheen Shah Afridi, capitalized on this weakness, taking four key wickets. This trend has haunted India since 2021, and it was no different on this occasion. Virat Kohli, the batting stalwart, has found himself in troubled waters against left-arm pacers, succumbing to their tactics on four occasions.

His statistics against them are telling, managing just 87 runs off 98 balls at an average of 21.75 with a strike rate of 88.77. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma, the team’s captain, has faced a similar challenge, falling prey to left-arm pacers six times since 2021. His numbers against them reflect the struggle, accumulating 138 runs off 147 balls at an average of 23, with a strike rate of 93.87.

3. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brilliance with the ball

Star Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has been phenomenal against India. Afridi, with his raw pace and swinging deliveries, troubled the Indian top order and almost won the game for his team. After coming back from a rain break, Shaheen improved his line and length, which resulted in two prized wickets.

Afridi first dismissed India skipper Rohit Sharma, who was looking in good touch. In addition, he also bowled Virat Kohli in his very next over to change the momentum of the game. Shaheen has been phenomenal against India throughout his career. He has a great record in the subcontinent and also against the Indian team. His performance also came as a good lesson for Rohit and co.