Colombo: Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started very well against dangerous Pakistan pacers like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
Rohit also smashed back-to-back sixes to Shadab Khan. However, he offered a catch at long off from his delivery in the 17th over. Gill departed the very next over as he was caught at short cover while attempting a drive on length off a disguised slower ball from Shaheen Afridi.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are at the crease with India at 140/2 in 22 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bowl first. India captain Rohit Sharma said he was looking to bat first anyway. India have made two changes to their playing XI. While Shreyas Iyer is out with a back spasm and replaced by KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah has taken his place back in the side.
The first game between the arch-rival India and Pakistan, played in Kandy during the group stage, was curtailed by rain.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
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