The entire drama and build-up of the India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 had an anti-climatic ending as the match was washed out due to rain in Kandy. Only 1 innings took place and Pakistan didn’t get the opportunity to bat in this game.
However, this was a big learning curve for both the teams. Batting first, India huffed and puffed to reach 266. India were tottering at 66-4 as the Pakistani pacers scythed through the batting line-up of India.
The likes of Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan bailed India out of a precarious situation and their good form is a big positive sign for the Indian cricket team.
In this article, we take a look at the top 3 talking points of the PAK vs IND game in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023:
1. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s partnership
At a time when the Indian top-order fell like a pack of cards, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan steered India out of danger waters. Both these batters displayed oodles of maturity and ensured India had a fantastic recovery.
While Kishan scored 82 runs in 81 balls, Hardik Pandya mustered 87 runs in 90 deliveries. India’s resurrection was primarily because of these 2 cricketers. As the tournament progresses, these two batters will be playing a pivotal role for India.
2. Shubman Gill’s lean patch of form extends
Hailed as the next big-thing in Indian cricket, Shubman Gill hasn’t been having the best of form, off-late. The 23-year-old cricketer had a golden opportunity to put a lid on the mouths of all his naysayers but he once again failed to delivered the goods.
He scored just 10 runs in 32 balls and couldn’t settle into the crease. Notably, in the past 17 international innings, Gill has managed to score only 2 fifties. His poor form is a big headache for India and has started to ring alarm bells.
3. Pakistani pacers ruling the roost
At the start of the tournament, the dual between India’s top-order and the Pakistani pacers was a battle to watch out for. And this has been won by the latter. The Pakistani pacers in the form of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah tore through the batting department of India in this Asia Cup 2023 game.
While Shaheen Afridi bagged 4 wickets, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took 3 wickets each. Their dominance in world cricket is unparalleled and they have been the major pushing factors in the Pakistan team.
Also read: 3 Reasons Why Washington Sundar Can Play A Crucial Role For India In The ICC ODI World Cup 2023
