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In the cricketing galaxy where stars are in plenty, Babar Azam continues to outshine his contemporaries, marking his dominance in the 2023 Asia Cup. By just scoring 29 runs in the Asia Cup Super Four clash against Sri Lanka on Thursday, September 14, Babar surged to the zenith of the highest run-scorer leaderboard of the ongoing Asia Cup.
Prior to this thrilling face-off, Babar occupied the second berth in terms of run accumulation, with Rohit Sharma slightly ahead. However, the recent innings ensured that the Pakistan skipper leapfrogged to secure the top position, amassing an imposing 207 runs from a span of 5 matches. Following closely is India's captain, Rohit Sharma, holding 194 runs under his belt from 4 matches. Given the dynamics of the tournament, if Pakistan stumbles against Sri Lanka, Babar's innings would be at a standstill. On the contrary, Rohit has two assured chances to swing his bat, potentially reclaiming the numero uno position.
The run-fest leaderboard sees Bangladesh's sensation, Najmul Hossain Shanto, comfortably nestled in the third spot, having racked up 193 runs in just two encounters. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis maintain their fourth and fifth positions, holding 167 and 162 runs, respectively.
The young Indian prodigy, Shubman Gill, occupies the sixth place with 154 runs. KL Rahul, showcasing his impeccable talent, has garnered 150 runs in merely two matches, putting him in the seventh slot. Interestingly, Virat Kohli, a name synonymous with run mountains, finds himself at the 12th position, having scored 129 runs in four games.
Adding zest to the Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are presently engaged in a nail-biting virtual semi-final. The triumphant team from this electrifying Super Four duel will earn the privilege to challenge India in the grand finale, while the vanquished will make an early exit. It's worth noting that both contenders have tasted defeat at the hands of India in the second round of this tournament. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, having lost their chances, will face India in a match that won't affect their tournament standings.
The looming clouds also indicate a possible rain interruption, which could play a pivotal role in deciding the finalists. A washout would automatically pave Sri Lanka's way to the finale. Should Pakistan clinch a win, fans will witness an epic India-Pakistan face-off in the summit clash of this continental extravaganza for the first time.
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