India vs Pakistan matches have always been a topic of intense discussion amongst cricket fans from all across the world. The rivalry has seen several chapters added with the passage of time over the past several years. Both the sides have given it their all in the past whenever they’ve faced each other on the biggest stage till date. It’s due to this that the face off between India and Pakistan in the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup too was being highly anticipated by the fans over the past few days. However the Indian fans had to face a massive disappointment right towards the beginning phase of the game. Pakistan started off in fine fashion as India had their backs to the wall almost instantly.
India won the toss in the highly intense match and elected to bat first under overcast conditions. The Indian innings started in fairly good fashion as the batters sucessfully managed to negotiate the first few overs. Rohit Sharma looked good in particular as he had smashed a boundary against Shaheen Afridi in each of his first two overs. However it was midway between the 5th over that rain halted the play all of a sudden. The players had to leave the field as the covers were brought in.
Though the rain didn’t last long, it had done the job for the Pakistani bowlers who now had the adge over the batters as they had their rhythm disturbed majorly in the last half an hour’s time. The effect was clear as Rohit Sharma failed to read Shaheen ‘s variations in the first over after the game resumed. Shaheen eventually cleaned up the Indian skipper for 11 in the last ball of the over. A brilliant inswinging delivery had Rohit beaten completely and went on to crash into the off stump.
Virat Kohli came out to bat at no.3 in the 6th over. The right hander looked in brilliant touch as he smashed his fourth delivery for a cracking boundary through the covers. It seemed as if the man from Delhi was looking well set to turn things around after an early blow. However Shaheen Afridi had other ideas as he came to bowl his fourth over of the match.
The third ball of the seventh over saw Virat Kohli being outfoxed by another brilliant delivery by Shaheen Afridi as the former Indian skipper only managed to get an inside edge following which the ball thumped into the stumps. Pakistan this managed to send back both the veterans in the Indian top order back in the pavilion cheaply to start things off in some style. Shaheen Afridi who was being expected to be Pakistan’s main man with the ball did his job in the best possible manner as Pakistan are on top.