An India versus Pakistan cricket match is expected to produce fireworks both verbally and with the bat & ball.
However, there has been a pleasant change in circumstances in the last couple of years where cricketers prefer to exchange greetings outside the pitch instead of going hammer and tongs at each other.
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Before the two arch-rivals renew hostilities at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy at the ongoing 2023 Asia Cup, Virat Kohli was spotted having a heartfelt interaction with Pakistan's Haris Rauf.
The duo share a storied rivalry on the pitch as it is not even a year since Kohli smacked two mammoth sixes off him in the T20 World Cup in the penultimate over to turn the tide in India's favour chasing 160. However, it seems that both players have moved on and they shared greetings with each other when they met during the practice sessions of their respective teams under lights.
Kohli and Rauf also embraced each other and shared a few light-hearted moments before they lock horns on Saturday afternoon in the continental event.
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WATCH: Kohli and Rauf embrace each other before India meets Pakistan in Asia Cup
King Kohli meets Haris Rauf ahead of the India Vs Pakistan clash. pic.twitter.com/ILPaL6Jk3a
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 1, 2023
Rauf is one of the spearheads of Pakistan's bowling line-up and his duel with Kohli will be one to savour. He will be ably complemented by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah who also has the potential to be game changers.
India squad vs Pakistan
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Pakistan squad vs India
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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How to watch India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup?
Country | TV CHANNEL | LIVESTREAM |
India | Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 2 | Disney+Hotstar |