India's Kuldeep Yadav celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf during the Asia Cup match in Colombo on Monday. (AP Photo)India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 highlights: A fifer from Kuldeep Yadav after centuries by KL Rahul (111*) and Virat Kohli (122*) guided India to a 228-run victory over Pakistan in the Super 4 match, in Colombo.
Besides the centuries from Rahul and Kohli, India also had half-centuries by Rohit Sharma (56) and Shubman Gill (58) that propelled them to a first innings score of 356/2 in 50 overs. This was after the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan resumed on Monday after rain delayed the start of the reserve day. Despite play starting one hour 40 minutes after the scheduled time, the game remained 50 overs a side contest.
India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan was also impacted by rain. The weather has been intensely debated through the Sri Lanka leg of the Asia Cup. Rain is expected in the Sri Lankan capital throughout the Super 4s. Asian Cricket Council’s decision to keep a reserve day only for the India-Pakistan game and the final also triggered a controversy.
Follow all the highlights from India vs Pakistan match below
Pakistan
128 (32.0)India
356/2 (50.0)India beat Pakistan by 228 runs
Pakistan's fast bowling unit with a left-arm wrist-snapper and a couple of right-arm finger-flickers have drenched the cricketing world in nostalgia. (Reuters/AP)
India's Shubman Gill plays a shot during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Nepal in Pallekele, Sri Lanka on Monday, Sep. 4. (AP/PTI Photo)
Pakistan team Babar Azam tosses the coin, watched by Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma before the start Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at Pallekele, Sri Lanka. (PTI)
And with that, we have coem to the end of our liveblog for the India vs Pakistan game. We'll be back tomorrow with more Asia Cup action live. Till then, good night
Rohit, while talking about batting, says: 'Fantastic performance, right from yesterday. When we started, we knew the wicket was good and we had to adjust with the rain, the two experienced guys we knew they'd take time to get their eye in and then we can get going.'
Then, while talking about Bumrah, says: 'He looked good, he swung it both ways and he's worked really hard for the last 8-10 months. Bumrah is only 27, for him to miss games isn't ideal but the way he bowled showed what he is all about.'
He adds: 'Looking at how we batted, there were lots of positives with the openers and then Virat and KL. Virat's innings was brilliantly paced. And then KL, last minute to get back from injury and play 5 minutes before the toss, we told him to get ready. Shows the mindset of the player.'
"We just wanted to get out on the park, to get some game time. Lot of guys haven't had that. That could only happen thanks to a great effort from the groundsmen. I know how tough it is to cover and remove covers from the whole ground. On behalf of the entire team, we would like to thank them," he says.
5/21 - Arshad Ayub, Dhaka, 1988
5/50 - Sachin Tendulkar, Kochi, 2005
5/25 - Kuldeep Yadav, Colombo, today*
4/12 - Anil Kumble, Toronto, 1996
Babar is asked where they lost the game? he says, "Weather not in our hands -- but both bowling and batting."
He then talks about how Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill attacked Pakistan's main bowlers: "They had a plan for our bowlers. And then KL and Virat followed it up and finished very well."
"I have plan ready against top sides. You have to be prepared. I've played against them in 2019, I know most of the guys, how they play spin. Just focusing on my variation. I'm just working on my length and focused on bowling wicket to wicket. Whenever I am playing against a good spin side, they try to sweep and reverse sweep, that's when you're in with a chance to take wickets," says Kuldeep.
"Have seen better rhythm from last one year. Enjoying it, with the consistency. Its good to pick five wickets. Whenever I got four wickets, I never thought about picking the fifth one. Because at the moment all I am thinking about is bowling a good length. Whenever you get a five-for, it is really amazing," says Kuldeep.
A win by 228 runs for the Men in Blue!
Centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, half-centuries from Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. And a fifer from Kuldeep Yadav.
So plenty of positives for India against the No 1 side in the world.
Kuldeep Yadav cleans up Faheem!
5 wickets for 25 runs for Kuldeep!
Shaheen Afridi hammers Kuldeep for a massive six down the ground. Looks like he has decided that he will play some big one. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah both went off the ground with injuries, so this might just be the last wicket for them.
Shardul Thakur, who has taken one wicket in his three overs and given away 14 runs, is back into the attack
Fourth wicket for Kuldeep on the night! This time it's a catch and bowled by Kuldeep, who gets out Iftikhar Ahmed for 23 runs.
Back of a length ball, enticing the batter to drive. Ball was there to be played off back foot, ball was there to be hit. But what does Iftikhar do? He hits it back into the hands of Kuldeep who catches it gleefully
Pakistan are 119/7
Another wicket gone! Once again it's Kuldeep Yadav!
He lures Shadab into hitting over the circle. And the batter doesn't really get a hold of it. It flies into the hands of Shardul Thakur, who claims it without any fuss!
Shadab departs for six runs off 10 balls!
A superb over from Kuldeep! just the three runs coming off it! There was a chance to nab Iftikhar Ahmed's wicket! But it didn't come off as the ball was some distance away from Rohit Sharma! Score after 26 overs, PAK: 96/5
Agha Salman is struck plumb in front and Kuldeep makes a loud appeal! Umpire raises the finger and the batter goes for a review. How close is this ? No bat involved and into the pad. Ball tracking is next and ..... it is Umpires Call. So it is out because the umpire had given him out. Time for a drinks break. Score after 24 overs, PAK: 96/5
Agha Salman goes for the big hit and hits Jadeja for a boundary! It has gone towards deep mid-wicket. Jadeja wont be happy with it. But this was much needed as the req. run-rate has gone past 9. Score after 23 overs, PAK: 93/4
Ravindra Jadeja has been brought into the attack and gives away 2 from the first 2 balls as the Pakistan batters rotate strikes. Same goes for the third as well as the batters deal in singles. Uffff. That ball has hit Salman straight on his face. PAK 83/4 after 21 overs
Kuldeep will bowl the 20th over and he strikes in the very second ball!!! Rohit can breathe a sigh of relief as Fakhar Zaman is the man too depart. Absolutely cleaned him up with that corker!! PAK 77/4 after 19.2 overs
Pandya continues and Agha Salman is off the mark in this over with a single off the second delivery. Zaman back on strike and he smacks a four to deep midwicket!!! A penny for Rohit's thoughts after that dropped effort. PAK 77/3 after 19 overs
Kuldeep Yadav in to bowl the 18th over and starts with a dot as Zaman defends. A slip in place now and ohhh!!! It was almost another wicket as Zaman edged it and Rohit couldn't keep hold of the ball. It was a one-handed effort too. ust 2 from this over ultimately. PAK 71/3 after 18 overs
15 overs complete, with Pakistan at 65/3! Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is continuing to bowl a few jaffa's and this time it is to Agha Salman, who is beaten with a beauty! 136 kmph full delivery on off-stump, and the batter is beaten completely.
Lovely shot! Length ball into the stumps, Salman, with a straight bat, gets forward and punches past mid-on for four more. Despite the rain, the ball has raced away to the ropes. Score after 14 overs, PAK: 56/3
Shardul Thakur is going to begin proceedings. Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman are at the crease for Pakistan! And it is a wicket in the over! Rizwan is gone, courtesy off a brilliant delivery! Nice and full and Rizwan tries to play on the on-side but the leading edge is taken by KL Rahul behind the stumps. PAK: 47/3
The rain has stopped and the covers are coming off at Combo. We can expect a restart soon. In 10 mins then
In a small room next to the sight screen, Godfrey Dabrera is resting with his legs on top of another chair with a lit cigarette in one hand. It’s only 10 minutes after the Super 4 fixture between India and Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium began at 4:40 pm, one hour and forty minutes late into the reserve day. Blowing smoke rings Dabrera says, “Hold on…been a very busy couple of hours. I haven’t even had time for a smoke break,” he says even as his groundstaff are checking with him if they can step out for a tea break.
It has been that sort of a week or so for Dabrera and his groundstaff. Being the national curator of Sri Lanka Cricket, it has been challenging not only for him, but even for his 100-odd groundstaff, who have been doing an incredible job despite the heavy rains that Colombo has witnessed over the past fortnight. Ever since it became clear that the tournament will run into bad weather, Dabrera, who has around 60 ground staff under his umbrella, hired around 50 more labourers for the Asia Cup, fully aware of the challenge ahead.
And for a week, he has been training his boys about how to bring the covers on, keeping a stopwatch in hand. Dabrera has been doing this for 20 years, but he is in no mood to take chances. “We took about 100 labourers for a match, otherwise there are 60 skilled workers and if needed I borrow them from Pallekele, Galle, Hambantota. But because of the rains this time, I had to bring more” he said. (READ MORE)
The covers are coming off. There will be an inspection soon. Pakistan's target in 30 overs will be 267, in 25 overs it will be 237 and in 20 overs, it will be 200. That means Pakistan will require 156 runs in 9 overs if the match is reduced to 20 overs
Play stopped due to rain! Again! Once again the showers have come out of nowhere and the groundstaff have run on to the ground in a hurry!
Hardik Pandya gets one to come back in and goes through the gate! Babar Azam is gone for 10(24). Brilliant delivery from Pandya! Mohammad Rizwan, right handed bat, comes to the crease. Score after 11 overs, PAK: 44/2
This is not an impossible task for Pakistan to chase tonight as well. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azamare big match players. All depends on not loosing too many wickets early on when there is swing. Everything will be easy after 10,12 overs. Its all to stay and see off the new ball. So we are in the 11th over and swing deviation have decreased alot. Should be easy out there now. Score after 10 overs, PAK: 43/1
Bumrah vs. Babar is turning out to be a mouth-watering contest. As of now Jasprit Bumrah is leaving Babar Azam clueless. Bumrah is consistently beating Babar's defense by constantly bowling just outside the off-stump with beautiful seam position. Score after 7 overs, PAK: 21/1
Jasprit Bumrah strikes!! He came round the wicket and forced the southpaw to play at it and the edge goes to second slip! Imam Ul Haq was neither front or back and was gone at the end. India's bowling attack just looks a completely different one with Bumrah in it. A wicket maiden for Jasprit Bumrah. Score after 5 overs, PAK: 17/1
Imam cracks one away from Siraj who was slightly short angling outside off! Imam-ul-Haq stnads on his toes and cuts it away. Good start for the men in green. Score after 2 overs, PAK: 11/0
Fakhar Zaman and Imam are at the crease. Fakhar Zaman is on strike. Bumrah will open the attack. He is bowling with a good seam position and is keeping the batters on their toes. Score after 1 overs, PAK: 5/0
Innovative from Kohli! He moved to the off side and then tried to swing it to leg side but changed his shot last moment to hit it to third man.. FOUR!! by King Kohli and it is a no-ball. Then the free-hit goes for a four as well! And the last ball goes for a SIX! Terrific end to the innings. Score after 50 overs, IND: 356/2
Naseem has gone off the field as well, holding his hand. Iftikhar Ahmed [5.0-0-46-0] is back into the attack and finishes the over. Score after 49 overs, IND: 338/2
Number 47 for King Kohli in ODIs. What a player and a big smile on his face! Six fours and two sixes in the innings so a lot of hard work involved there from Kohli. 200 run-partnership also comes up between Kohli and Rahul!
What a comeback, take a bow KL Rahul! Score after 47 overs, IND: 319/2
Last five overs left and with Hardik, Ishan, Jadeja, and Thakur, still to come to bat anything between 350-360 is possible. Score after 46 overs, IND: 307/2
India is currently 286 for the loss of only 2 wickets, The Kohli-Rahul partnership is already very accelerating and they've still got 6 overs to score more runs, What total do you think the men in blue will set for Pakistan?
Virat Kohli knows this is the last over from part-timer Iftikhar Ahmed and whacks him away for a SIX! What a shot ! Goes down the track and effortlessly flicks it over deep mid-wicket for six. A four later in the over and that makes it 16 from the over. Score after 43 overs, IND: 280/2
66th ODI 50 for Virat! 50+ scores from Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. All top four India players scored fifties against Pakistan. Only the fourth time in ODI history. Score after 39 overs, IND: 243/2
Groundstaff are ready and on their toes outside the boundary ropes as they are anticipating rain again!
After two relatively quiet over, Kohli goes down the track against Faheem Ashraf ang gets the inside edge which races awy for a four. The grey skies above also must be giving India a headache. They need to get as much as possible in case rain comes again. The groundstaff are ready with the covers. Score after 37.1 overs, IND 235/2
Kl Rahul puts Shadab Khan straightaway under pressure with a first ball four and then hits a majestic SIX! Rahul uses his feet against the leg-spinner and makes the most of his bottom hand and whacks it away over the ropes. Rahul is looking dangerous at the moment. Score after 35 overs, IND: 225/2
Coming from an injury and middling shots. That’s why you need Kl Rahul at no 4. Looks fluid today, is running well, hitting it from the middle of the bat. Can he convert it to a big one ?
Kohli smashes Iftikhar Ahmed four on the last ball of the 33rd over and that makes 11 from it. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have begun well. Score after 33 overs, IND: 204/2
Just after the 50-run partnership comes up between Kohli and Rahul, KL takes the attack to Iftikhar Ahmed and sweeps him away for a six. It seems like a good strategy from India as they try to accumulate as many runs as possible. After all, the threat still persists. Run-rate is over 6 at the moment. 11 from the over. Score after 31 overs, IND: 186/2
“Laga, Laga” was the common refrain from the Pakistan fielders, including their captain Babar Azam, when a catch-down-legside of Virat Kohli was turned down. They went upstairs to the third umpire. As soon as they signalled the third-ump gesture, Kohli flashed a big smile, and had a chat with the Pakistan players. The reason was it had brushed his thigh pad enroute to Mohammad Rizwan, who as ever was the most confident about the wrong appeal. Score after 28 overs, IND: 163/2
During 2019 ODI world cup, Virat Kohli was asked to share 1) pressure moment against Pakistan 2) funniest incident against Pakistan.
Most pressure moment: “From 2009, when Yuvi [Yuvraj Singh] was injured, I flew in. Two days later I was playing Pakistan. Unlike anything I had experienced before. Played a bad shot, couldn’t sleep till 6 AM thinking am finished,” Kohli said.
Funniest incident: “Can’t go into details here. Was during 2011 World Cup semi-final. I was at the non-striker’s end. It was a conversation between Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz. It was very funny in that pressure situation. I can’t say here."
First boundary on reserve day comes off the edge off Virat Kohli and goes past the vacant slip area. Just a while back, Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri had spoken about a slip being in place. Had it been there then it would have been half a chance. As of now, the ball moved away and Kohli opened the bat face and gets a four
There is something fascinating about how Naseem Shah bowls. Let’s take that zinger he bowled to KL Rahul just now in the 26th over. It seamed away late; usually when bowlers get to do it, you see them using their fingers to cut the seam of the ball- ala a leg cutter. But Naseem still bowls it like how one would swing the new ball- namely, backspin on the seam, running the fingers down the seam. Usually, in the middle overs, the swing stops, and so the bowlers start using the fingers cutting across the seam to get the seam movement. Like Faheen Ashraf is doing now. Naseem sticks to backspinning the ball - the tilt of the seam directs the angle of the ball, for him. Would he still stick to the same technique further down the game? In theory, the movement would keep getting lesser with that method but would it for Naseem, though?
Late movement from Naseem Shah and good pace at 142 kmph and KL Rahul is beaten all ends up! Rahul wanted to defend it with a straight bat but the ball leaves him late and goes past the outside edge. A couple of balls later, Kohli is also beaten. Wasim Akram, on air, wants a slip in place. Just two runs from the over. Score after 26 overs, IND: 152/2
Here we go again in Colombo! Virat Kohli and KL Rahul walk out to the middle. Shadab Khan is ready to bowl to Rahul.
Match to resume at 4.40 PM and will be a 50-over contest. India will resume their innings from 24.1 overs with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul
Haris Rauf will not be bowling any further in the Asia Cup Super 4 match against India as a precautionary measure. He felt a little discomfort in his right flank during the match yesterday. He was subsequently taken for a precautionary MRI, which revealed no tear. He is under the observation of the team’s medical panel.
We will have an inspection at 4.20 PM
The covers are being removed now. This is not a drill where they remove it and bring it back. To give you more hope, it is getting brighter by the minute.
A heavy downpour just 90 minutes before the start and it’s slowed down a bit and then it seemed all is well but again the entire ground now has been covered. Typical hide and seek being played by the weather gods.