Cricket Live: India Posts 266/10 Against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023
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Key Highlights:
Ishan Kishan contributed a resilient 82, while Hardik Pandya played an explosive inning, scoring 87 runs, anchoring India's innings.
Shaheen Afridi was Pakistan's standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 35 runs.
India's captain, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and chose to bat in this crucial match.
Pakistan maintained the same lineup as their previous match, while India made strategic changes to their playing XI.
Mohammed Shami was left out of India's lineup, making way for Shardul Thakur, who joined Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah in the pace department.
Shreyas Iyer, returning to the team since the India-Australia Test series earlier this year, was placed in the middle order ahead of Suryakumar Yadav.
Ravi Shastri, analyzing pitch conditions, noted that this pitch had more grass than the previous one, which was used for the Pakistan vs. Nepal match. He expected slower bounce and the possibility of early spin. A score of 260-270 was considered challenging on this wicket.
Playing XIs:
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Pakistan Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
The match had its share of drama, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf striking early, reducing India to 66/4. However, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya's remarkable partnership of 148 runs for the fifth wicket shifted the momentum in India's favor. This partnership marked India's highest fifth-wicket stand in the Asia Cup. Pakistan's spinners struggled to make an impact, and it was the pacers who contained the Indian innings. The innings also featured an entertaining cameo by Jasprit Bumrah towards the end.
Naseem Shah wrapped up the Indian innings, dismissing Kuldeep Yadav with a caught-behind, while Jasprit Bumrah's entertaining cameo ended with a brilliant catch by Salman Agha at the boundary.
As the innings concluded, India set a target of 267 runs for Babar Azam and his team to chase down. The stage is set for an exciting contest in the Asia Cup 2023.
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