Pakistan will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they lock horns with arch-rivals India in the third match of the Super 4 of Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday, September 10 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
India’s batting display in their prior face-off against Pakistan in the league stage can be described as underwhelming. They were dismissed for a mere 266 runs, primarily due to their top order struggling against bowlers such as Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. It was only the exceptional 138-run partnership between Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan that prevented Team India from falling below the three-digit run mark.
Heading into the game, Captain Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer, will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing performances in the first match against Pakistan. Furthermore, this game will put their bowlers to the test, as they have shown vulnerabilities in recent matches against Nepal and during the league stage.
On the other hand, Pakistan are heading into this match undefeated in both the league stage and their initial Super 4 encounter against Bangladesh, where they secured a comprehensive seven-wicket victory. They had previously triumphed over Nepal during the league stage and are now focused on continuing their winning streak in the tournament.
The success of Pakistan can be attributed in part to their lethal bowling attack, consisting of the formidable trio Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. These three pacers possess the capability to dismantle any opposition’s batting lineup on their day. Heading into this game, they are determined to replicate their previous performance against the Indian batting lineup.
However, before heading into this game, let’s take a look at the pitch report, stats, and ground records of the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, which is set to host the India vs Pakistan Super 4 encounter:
IND vs PAK: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Pitch Report
While the R. Premadasa Stadium hosted the Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh game without any rain interruption, there’s a looming threat of rain affecting the India vs. Pakistan match. Traditionally, this venue has been favorable for spinners, but due to heavy rainfall in recent days, fast bowlers are expected to thrive. The team winning the toss should consider batting first.
IND vs PAK: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Pitch Stats, and Records
- Total matches: 155
- Matches won batting first: 84
- Matches won bowling first: 61
- Average 1st Inns scores: 232
- Average 2nd Inns scores: 191
- Highest total recorded: 375/5 (50 Ov) by IND vs SL
- Lowest total recorded: 78/10 (33.1 Ov) by SLW vs ENGW
- Highest score chased: 292/4 (48.3 Ov) by SL vs AUS
- Lowest score defended: 170/10 (49.2 Ov) by WIW vs SLW
IND vs PAK: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Weather Report
There is a high probability of rain disrupting the game on Sunday, with a 90 percent chance of precipitation. The humidity is forecasted to be approximately 83 percent, and the wind speed is expected to be around 19Kmph. Additionally, there are predictions of thunderstorms occurring.
