After spoiling the Group clash of the ongoing Asia Cup between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on September 2, rain once again played spoilsport as two of the fiercest rivals in world came face to face in the Super 4 stage.
However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had allotted a reserve day meaning the clash on Sunday (September 10) wasn’t washed out, instead, it will be played on the reserve day, Monday (September 11).
Notably, it will be for the first time since 2019 when the Indian cricket team will be playing a game on reserve day however, once again there’s a high chance of heavy showers which could again interrupt the proceedings on Monday as well.
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam elected to field after winning the toss against India in Colombo at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill kicked-off the proceedings with a bang as they came out firing on all cylinders.
Unlike the group stage clash, Rohit and Shubman both slammed their respective half-centuries and forged a 121-run partnership.
While skipper Rohit scored 56 off 49 balls with six boundaries and four maximums, Gill smashed 58 in 52 deliveries, decorated with ten fours.
Shadab Khan got the first breakthrough when he packed back a good-looking Rohit while ace pacer Shaeen dismissed Gill in the very next over to hand the Men in Blue successive jolts.
Run-machine Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were at the crease with the scorecard reading 147/2 after 24.1 overs when rains once again halted the game.
However, no overs were lost and play will resume from where it stopped and the Indian team will get to bat for the full quota of fifty overs. But the disappointing news is that there’s a forecast of heavy rain once again on Monday.
Going by the Accuweather, there is a 92 percent chance of precipitation and prediction of up to six hours of precipitation on the reserve day in the capital city of Sri Lanka.