India vs Pakistan Playing XI: Rohit Sharma's India are all set to go up against Babar Azam's Pakistan in a high-octane Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours match on Sunday (September 10) at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The two Group A teams previously met on September 2 for a group-stage face-off which ended without a result due to incessant rains. Only India batted and the match was called off due to rain without a ball being bowled in the second innings.
Star middle-order batter KL Rahul, who wasn't available due to injury, is now fit and available for selection. Ahead of the high-octane Ind vs Pak Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours match in Colombo on Sunday, let's have a look at team India's predicted playing XI vs Pakistan.
Last time when the two teams faced-off, India's top order faced a bitter collapse in front of Pakistan's lethal pace bowling, led by 'wrecker-in-chief' Shaheen Afridi. Virat Kohli, Rohit Shamra, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, all flopped. Although Rohit and Gill scored unbeaten half-centuries in their next encounter against debutants Nepal, their form cannot be judged from that match.
For India to attain victory it is very important for the top order to get some runs. Rohit and Gill need to ensure to not lose their wickets in early overs, power India off to a solid start. KL Rahul, returning from injury after almost a year's gap, is available for selection but it seems he might find it difficult to make a place in India XI vs Pakistan.
Ishan Kishan, also a wicket-keeper batter like KL Rahul, strengthened his place in the Indian squad by playing a brilliant innings against Pakistan during their group stage match on September 2. Ishan saved the day for India when big names failed against Pakistan's bowlers. He played a brilliant innings of 82 runs to take the team to a respectable score. In-form Ishan has strengthened his claim as a wicket-keeper batsman and it seems quite difficult for Rahul to replace him.
Leading pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who didn't feature in India's group stage match against Nepal, is all set to make a comeback in the match against Pakistan. Apart from Bumrah, India might pick Shami and Siraj in the Playing XI. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will most likely get picked as the two spinners and Hardik Pandya as pace-bowling all-rounder.
India's predicted playing XI vs Pakistan: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wicket keeper), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan's playing XI vs India: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf