Asia Cup 2023: Fakhar Zaman puts down Rohit Sharma on nought

Rohit Sharma had no hesitation in opting to bat first in the much-awaited encounter against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023 in Pallekele. However, the Indian captain survived off the second ball of the match. Rohit flicked a ball off his pads off Shaheen Afridi. Fakhar Zaman, who was standing at short square leg ahead of the leg umpire, dived to his left and got both hands to the ball but couldn't grab it. This could have been the ideal start for the Men in Green.

Fakhar Zaman dropped Rohit on 0.#PAKvIND #INDvPAK #INDvsPAK #pakvsind2023 pic.twitter.com/Tk6bm4JI6f

— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) September 2, 2023

To make matters worse, the ball went to the boundary to get the right-handed batter and his team off the mark.

Shaheen followed it with a beautiful delivery as it shaped back in and struck Rohit on the thigh pad. Pakistan players did appeal, but they knew the impact was too high. Naseem Shah shared the new ball with Shaheen. The two young and talented seamers found decent movement as Shubman and Rohit didn't look at ease. After only 4.2 overs, the players had to rush off the field, with rain pelting down. India managed to reach 15/0 at the rain break, with the skipper on 11 off 18 balls and Shubman yet to get off the mark after facing eight deliveries.

India leave out Mohammed Shami to play with three all-rounders

The former seven-time Asia Cup champions decided to leave ace pacer Mohammed Shami on the bench as they started with all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are the two frontline pacers that India picked in the playing XI.

On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer has been named in the playing XI after recovering from a back injury and is playing his first international game since earlier this year in March. All eyes will be on his fitness after coming back from an injury that forced him to miss the Indian Premier League as well as the World Test Championship final.