India eye Super Four berth as Nepal challenge awaits

The Indian cricket team is all set to take to the yard again in Asia Cup 2023 as Nepal awaits the Men in Blue challenge. India had their first game against Pakistan washed out as rain played spoilsport at Pallekele. The Men in Blue will be coming to this fixture with a point in their kitty while Nepal will have to spark a historic upset if they are to advance to the next round.

Rohit Sharma and company will have to take a closer look at their top-order after it faltered against Pakistan miserably. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya were crucial run-getters for the Indian side but once again the transition from the lower-middle order to the tail-enders wasn’t just bumpy but it was a downright fiasco.

However, with the change in opposition and maybe a full game, India can expect to put up a blockbuster show with the bat while their bowlers will be hoping to get things in place. However, the absence of Bumrah as he left for his home citing personal reasons may be a factor that will be looked under the microscope as Mohammed Shami is slotted to take his spot.

For Nepal, things went horribly down against a formidable Pakistan until but they will be hoping to get things under control as a reckoning force against India knock on their doors. They will have to craft history at Pallekele in order to clinch a ticket for the next round. Only time shall tell whether the Men in Blue will be able to showcase their complete strength, or will rain play spoilsport again?

Venue Watch:

Well, it’s the same pitch that will have something for both the sides. The bowlers will relish early advantage with the new ball but once the game progresses, things will turn easy for the batters. There is a reputation for dew as well in the latter half of the game and the team batting second may just have a slender edge.

Head to Head:

This is the first time the two teams will face off in an ODI and hence, no previous records are available.

Match Details:

Match – India vs Nepal

Venue: Pallekele Stadium

Date: 4th September, 2023

Time: 3:00 PM

Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.

Nepal: Rohit Paudel (Capt.), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan K.C., Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish G.C., Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud.