After their group-stage game got washed out, the arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to lock horns for the second time in the Super 4s stage in the Asia Cup 2023. The match is slated to take place on September 10, Sunday, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Their first encounter in the tournament, on September 2, Saturday, got washed out without a single ball being bowled in the second innings.
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Now that the neighbours are all set to lock horns in a mouth-watering clash, here are the top five players you should set your eyes on.
Hardik Pandya
One of the top players fans would have their eyes on is the star all-rounder of Rohit Sharma’s squad, Hardik Pandya. In the previous IND vs PAK match, Pandya came to bat at six and contributed 87 runs to keep India’s innings alive. He and Ishan Kishan built a 100+ runs partnership to get India back on track.
Not only this but in his side’s match against Nepal, the Gujarat Titans captain took one wicket while conceding 34 runs. It will be interesting to see if he would be able to keep up with his momentum.
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Jasprit Bumrah
The newest father in Indian cricket, Jasprit Bumrah made his comeback in the Indian squad after recovering from a back injury. The 29-year-old scored 16 runs off 14 deliveries in India’s season opener. However, he didn’t get to bowl in the game as the game got abandoned due to monsoon showers.
Bumrah missed the second game against Nepal as he flew to Mumbai to welcome his first child. With their favourite fast bowler back in action, fans would expect a sensational spell from Bumrah.
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Shaheen Shah Afridi
This lethal pacer from the Men in Green squad has been nothing less than India’s worst nightmare in the tournament. Shaheen Shah Afridi scalped India’s top four wickets in their first encounter, in the names of captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Afridi conceded 35 runs to destroy India’s batting order in their first game.
Not only this, but this Pakistani bowler has picked seven wickets in the continental showpiece so far and is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
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Babar Azam
The Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is currently the number 1 batter in the ODI format. Azam made a fantastic start to the ACC event and scored a fiery 151 runs against Nepal in the inaugural match in Multan. Not only this, but he and Iftikhar Ahmed also stitched a partnership of 214 runs and was awarded the Player of the Match.
Azam didn’t get to bat in the India-Pakistan group-stage match and fans would expect him to score big for his side in the upcoming game.
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Virat Kohli
The former Indian captain and one of the best batters out there, Virat Kohli, failed to perform in the last India vs Pakistan match. Kohi returned to the pavilion after scoring just four runs off seven deliveries as he became Shaheen Afridi’s second wicket for the day.
Despite the disappointing knock, the fact that the India great has played some of the finest innings against Pakistan cannot be ignored. The Delhi boy will look forward to bouncing back in the next match and playing an explosive knock against the neighbours.
