India's Asia Cup opener against Pakistan had to be abandoned due to rain on Saturday evening at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.
India laboured their way to 266/10 in 48.5 overs courtesy of two brilliant knocks from Ishan Kishan (82) and Pandya (87) after Shaheen Afridi removed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in quick succession.
MORE: Bet on India vs Pakistan here
Pakistan did not face a ball as it started raining during the innings break and the match had to be eventually abandoned.
India will next face Nepal on Monday whereas Pakistan have already qualified for the Super Four after a 238-run victory over Nepal in their campaign opener.
India vs Pakistan: Live score updates
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9:52- MATCH ABANDONED DUE TO RAIN. The two captains shake hands and the players come down from their respective dressing rooms and exchange greetings as the match has been called off. The rain has stopped but it would take 45 minutes to get the ground ready again and that will exceed the cut-off time of 10:27 p.m.
9:40- More covers are being introduced! The match must start by 10:27 p.m. for a 20-over contest. Otherwise, it will be a washout.
9:13- COVERS ARE BACK ON! It is raining once again in Pallekele. Not heavily, but it is drizzling. The start is set to be further delayed. No inspection have taken place.
9:09- How much will Pakistan need to score if overs are reduced?
If overs are reduced, Pakistan's target will be:
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 2, 2023
254 if 45 overs
239 if 40 overs
203 if 30 overs
155 if 20 overs
9:02- INSPECTION AT 9:05 PM IST. It will be a reduced game, of course, weather permitting. What if the match is washed out? Find out over here.
8:38 pm- RAIN HAS STOPPED! The first layer of covers has been peeled off. But it will take some time before Pakistan openers get into the middle.
Meanwhile, you can have a look at what is Duckworth Lewis-Stern Method and how is it calculated?
8:13 pm- The second innings was scheduled to start right about now, but the rain has started to fall again and the covers remain on for now. It is highly unlikely that we will have a full game. The entire ground is under covers and it is pouring heavily in Pallekele.
7:46 pm- 266 is a score that's perhaps slightly below par on this track, but given India's predicament at 66/4, it is more than good. Kishan and Hardik were both excellent through the middle overs, with their partnership of 138 leading the way.
Babar Azam perhaps missed a trick by not exerting more pressure on the pair before they got set, but the Pakistani pacers had a brilliant day out as usual. The covers are on for the innings break, but early indications are that there shouldn't be any delay for the second innings.
7:44 pm- WICKET! There it is, it's all over. Bumrah had been hitting the ball surprisingly well, but he hits this one more high than long and Agha Salman holds on to the catch on the midwicket boundary. Naseem finishes with three wickets and India are all out for 266. India 266 in 48.5 overs (Siraj 1*).
7:41 pm- WICKET! A second wicket for Naseem Shah. Pitched back of a length, it's too good for Kuldeep. The edge goes straight to Mohammad Rizwan as No 11 Mohammed Siraj comes in. India 261/9 in 48.2 overs (Bumrah 12*, Siraj 0*).
7:25 pm- The game has shifted remarkably after Shaheen's double strike to remove Hardik and Jadeja. Pakistan will be smelling blood, and there is a very real chance that India will not bat out their 50 overs. India 246/8 in 45 overs (Bumrah 2*, Kuldeep 0*).
7:21 pm- WICKET! Two in two for Pakistan across 2 overs. Naseem has his first as Shardul tries to turn this into the leg side. The leading edge goes to Shadab at cover and India are starting to lose their way a bit here. Jasprit Bumrah is the new man in. India 242/8 in 44.1 overs (Bumrah 0*, Kuldeep 0*).
7:19 pm- WICKET! The Eagle has well and truly landed. This could turn the innings and game in Pakistan's favour as Shaheen follows up Hardik's wicket by inducing an edge from Jadeja through to Rizwan. He's gone for 14 as Kuldeep Yadav comes in. India 242/7 in 44 overs (Shardul 0*, Kuldeep 0*).
7:14 pm- WICKET! Shaheen showed his new ball skills to get rid of Rohit and Kohli, and he's delivered at the back end as well. A brilliantly disguised slower ball results in Hardik Pandya hitting the ball straight to Agha Salman at cover. 87 off 90 for Hardik, and another massive scalp for Pakistan's star bowler. Shardul Thakur walks out to the middle. India 239/6 in 43.1 overs (Shardul 0*, Jadeja 14*).
6:59 pm- Kishan may have departed, but he had done his job. It's up to Jadeja, Hardik and possibly Shardul Thakur to get a good score for India here, as 300+ is still very much on the table. Pakistan will hope the pacers can finish strong and keep the score down to 260-odd. India 221/5 in 40 overs (Hardik 80*, Jadeja 3*).
6:47 pm- WICKET! Rauf has been expensive today, but he has a third wicket. The short ball again rushes Kishan, who was looking to shift gears. The ball goes straight up and is pouched by Babar Azam. 82 off 81 for the left-hander, a superb knock. In comes Ravindra Jadeja. India 204/5 in 37.3 overs (Hardik 66*, Jadeja 0*).
6:34 pm- It must be a relief for Indian fans to watch over an hour without a wicket falling. Shadab and Nawaz have borne the brunt of Kishan's aggression, and India will be trying to score even more quickly now. Hardik has also reached his half-century and the current partnership is worth 117. India 183/4 in 35 overs (Hardik 53*, Kishan 74*).
6:12 pm- Both the batters are starting to look good now, with Pakistan's spinners proving ineffective thus far. If one goes by the old adage to double the score after 30 overs, perhaps India should be aiming for 280-300 from here, something which seemed improbable not long ago. India 149/4 in 30 overs (Hardik 38*, Kishan 56*).
5:52 pm- Babar has just brought Shaheen back for another over in an effort to break this partnership. Maybe a bit too late, as the two in the middle for India have begun to get comfortable and are looking well-set, putting on 61 at upwards of 5 an over. India 127/4 in 25 overs (Hardik 30*, Kishan 43*).
5:33 pm- The spinners have begun to operate from both ends, providing some respite to this Indian batting lineup. Kishan has continued to attack despite wickets falling around him, so the scoring rate is still good. India 102/4 in 20 overs (Hardik 16*, Kishan 32*).
5:10 pm- Pakistan continue to strike at regular intervals, as India's entire top four is dismissed within the first 15 overs. India 72/4 in 15 overs (Hardik 5*, Kishan 14*).
5:07 pm- WICKET! Rauf has his second! Beats Gill for pace to knock back the middle and leg stumps.147 kmph, says the speed gun. The opener had been looking scratchy, and his agonising stay at the crease is over, having taken 32 balls for just 10 runs. Here comes Hardik Pandya. India 66/4 in 14.1 overs (Hardik 0*, Kishan 13*).
4:55 pm- The covers are fully off, and here we go again. Haris Rauf to Shubman Gill. Short ball, tapped for a single. India 52/3 in 11.3 overs (Kishan 2*, Gill 7*).
4:42 pm- A small update here as the covers have come off the outfield. The square remains covered, but we should hopefully be ready to play shortly.
4:36 pm- PLAY HALTED- The rain has begun to fall heavily again, with clouds building up in the area as well. The umpires have called for the covers, and this game is in danger of turning into a pesky start-stop affair. India 51/3 in 11.2 overs (Kishan 2*, Gill 6*).
4:29 pm- There's the end of the first Powerplay. India started well before Shaheen found his line and length to strike twice and get rid of India's big two. Shubman Gill has been very watchful while Shreyas Iyer looked confident on his return from injury, before holing out off Haris Rauf for 14. Pakistan with the upper hand but still a long way to go yet. India 48/3 in 10 overs (Kishan 0*, Gill 6*).
4:27 pm- WICKET!- Rauf strikes now! After bowling more full, he bangs one in to Shreyas Iyer, who pulls it straight to Fakhar Zaman at midwicket. In comes Ishan Kishan. India 48/3 in 9.5 overs (Kishan 0*, Gill 6*).
4:07pm- WICKET! Shaheen strikes again! Not quite the same as Rohit's wicket, but when you get Virat Kohli, you don't complain. Playing with a slightly angled bat, Kohli reaches out for the ball but gets an inside edge on to his stumps. Shreyas Iyer the new man in. India 27/2 in 6.3 overs (Shreyas 0*, Gill 1*).
3:58 pm- WICKET! So, Shaheen's four deliveries since the rain break have been much, much better. After three balls on a length going across Rohit, he brings one back in and pegs back the off stump! Virat Kohli will now come to the crease. India 15/1 in 5 overs (Kohli 0*, Gill 0*).
3:55 pm- Play will resume after that short rain delay. Shaheen Afridi to Rohit Sharma now. Full, tapped to mid-off. India 15/0 in 4.3 overs (Rohit 11*, Gill 0*).
3:46 pm- UPDATE- The ground staff have begun to remove the covers. Rohit Sharma has also put his helmet back on, and play could be underway shortly, as the rain has relented for now.
3:23 pm- PLAY HALTED- The rain has begun to come down now in what can be called a fairly heavy drizzle. The players are going off, the covers are coming on. But here is the summary so far. Shaheen and Naseem have started well for Pakistan, even if the former has been a tad too straight on occasion. Rohit Sharma has taken much of the strike, and has looked solid. A good deal of movement as well as uneven bounce on show in the early stages. India 15/0 in 4.2 overs (Rohit 11*, Gill 0*).
3:00 pm- Rohit Sharma to face the first ball, from Shaheen Shah Afridi. Full delivery, defended well. India 0/0 in 0.1 overs (Rohit 0*, Gill 0*).
Lineups: Pakistan unchanged, No Shami for India
India playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
Toss: India elects to bat
2.34 pm- Rohit Sharma has won the toss and India will be batting first under overcast conditions here in Pallekele.
Slight drizzle in Pallekele
There is a slight drizzle in Pallekele at the moment and the covers are being brought on. However, experts say it doesn't rain all day in Kandy at this time of the month.
Anyway, there was a bit of rain early in the morning at Pallekele. But from about 10:30 am local time, it has been sunny till now. But now it is drizzling ever so lightly.
Pallekele weather under the spotlight
It's expected to be gloomy in Pallekele with rain predicted for the evening. There is a real chance that we might see a rain-truncated match. If that is the case, the team that wins the toss might elect to bowl first in order to make sure they are ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis calculations.
India vs Pakistan: Head to Head record and predictions
Interestingly, this is the 133rd meeting between India and Pakistan in ODIs. Click here for head-to-head records, other match predictions and more.
Pakistan XI vs India revealed
Pakistan have already revealed their lineup for the Asia Cup match against India. They are going in with their trusted pace bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
IND vs PAK tips, predictions and betting odds
| IND win | PAK win | |
|---|---|---|
| Dafabet (India) | 1.54 | 2.56 |
IND vs PAK TV, telecast details
India vs Pakistan will be broadcast in several languages, across the following TV channels in India:
- Star Sports 1
- Star Sports 1 Hindi
- Star Sports 3
- Star Sports Select 1
- Star Sports Select 1 HD
- Star Sports HD1
IND vs PAK: Live stream, mobile, online details
Live streaming of this game will be provided free of charge, exclusively through Hotstar, for mobile users.
Hotstar will also make it available to subscribers through other platforms like website and Smart TV app.
