The cricketing world is set to witness another exciting chapter in the India vs Pakistan rivalry on Saturday, September 2, at 3 pm IST, when the match will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka. While Pakistan have already made a statement with a massive win against Nepal, India is gearing up for their Asia Cup 2023 opener.
Weather Forecast: Rain a potential spoilsport?
Despite the weather forecast for the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 match suggesting a high likelihood of rain, Sports Tak's own sports analyst Nikhil Naz explained that the weather in Kandy and Pallekele can be as unpredictable as it is in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram. The distance between Kandy and Pallekele is approximately 11 kilometres, and the weather can vary significantly between the two locations.
If the match ends in a draw due to weather conditions, Pakistan will advance to the Super 4, leaving India to secure a win against Nepal to progress.
Babar Azam's exceptional form
Pakistan's Babar Azam has already set the stage on fire with a remarkable 151 off 131 balls against Nepal, leading his team to a colossal 238-run victory. His form could be a significant factor in the upcoming IND vs PAK clash.
IND vs PAK Fantasy Prediction: Key Players to Watch
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shaheen Afridi
Both captains — Rohit Sharma for India and Babar Azam for Pakistan — along with India's Virat Kohli and Paksitan pacer Shaheen Afridi, are players to watch in your Fantasy prediction.
Pallekele Pitch Report: A spinner's paradise
The pitch at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium traditionally favours the batsmen initially but turns into a spinning track as the game progresses. Fast bowlers are unlikely to find much assistance from the surface. With rain in the forecast, the team winning the toss is likely to opt for fielding first, as the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method could come into play.
Fantasy Team
Mohammad Rizwan, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli(c), Babar Azam(vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Jasprit Bumrah
India Predicted XI
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan(wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan XI
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
Squads
India
Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumraj, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (travelling reserve).
Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).
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