India vs Nepal, Asia Cup 2023: Ravi Shastri Critical Of Rohit Sharma And Co.'s 'Flat Body Language' vs Nepal

05.09.2023 - 02:51 sports.ndtv.com

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team entered the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2023 by defeating Nepal in a rain-hit Group A match on Monday.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stayed unbeaten till the end as India registered a 10-wicket (DLS) win chasing a 231-run target.

However, not all was smooth for the Indian cricket team. After Rohit Sharma chose to bowl first, Indian fielders were lax on the field.

They dropped three chances before getting the house in order. Former Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri did not like India's 'body language' at the start of the match. "The approach, at the very beginning, those catches going down.

cricket India Cricket Team Asia Cup 2023 cup Rohit Sharma Star Sports Asia Cup Ravi Shastri India Nepal

Rohit Sharma defended the decision to make massive changes to the playing XI after India were beaten by Bangladesh in their final Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match on Friday. India were already in the final of the tournament and for the inconsequential match, they decided to rest veteran players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. On the other hand, youngster Tilak Varma was handed his ODI debut while Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Suryakumar Yadav made their way to the side. In the aftermath of the match, Rohit said that the idea was to give some game time for the cricketers and that can be important ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023.

Asia Cup 2023 - Watch: After Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Sri Lanka Rookie Dunith Wellalage Gets Babar Azam Too, Leaving Pakistan Star Shocked

Dunith Wellalage had a great outing against Indian in Sri Lanka's Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match on Tuesday. He accounted for the wickets of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. On Thursday, the spinner got another big wicket in Babar Azam. In the 16th over, Babar got stumped by Dunith Wellalage. It was a stunning delivery from the spinner as he tossed it up around off stump. Babar moved forward, only to find the ball pitching and turning away. Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis made not mistake and broke the stumps. Replays showed that Babar's back foot was in the air when the bails lit up. The Pakistan captain was shocked.

India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma Score Fine Fifties As Rain Forces Match Into Reserve Day

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave a masterclass in aggressive batsmanship with sublime half-centuries that took India to 147 for 2 against Pakistan on Sunday before the skies opened up to force their Asia Cup Super 4 match into the reserve day. The reserve day's proceedings will start from 3 PM IST onwards, after the rain stopped the proceedings on 4.52 PM this day. India had played 24.1 overs when the rain came down, and will resume from that point (24.2 overs) on the morrow. The two not out batsmen are Virat Kohli (8) and KL Rahul (17).

Watch: "Beware Of Pakistan", Shoaib Akhtar Warns India Ahead of Asia Cup 2023 Clash

Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar had a warning for the Indian cricket team ahead of the India vs Pakistan Super 4 match at the Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday. Cricket fans around the world are eagerly waiting for the contest after the group stage match between the two sides was abandoned due to rain. The weather report predicted chances of rain in Colombo as well but Akhtar took to social media to provide a weather update after landing from his flight. In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), he had a few words for his followers." Just landed in Colombo. Excited about Pakistan vs India. Weather looks quite amazing," the caption accompanying the video read.

India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: "In The Name Of Justice..." - Pace Great Wants IND vs PAK To Be Washed Out

The decision taken by the Asian Cricket Council to keep a reserve day for the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match between India and Pakistan was met with a lot of criticism. It was the only match that was given a reserve day and as a result, both fans and experts were not pleased with the decision and called for all matches of the tournament to be treated equally. Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took to social media to express his disappointment at the situation and he even said that he wishes that it rains throughout the two stipulated days in order to stop the 'malicious plans' from succeeding.

India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: Shubman Gill Admits They're Not Used To Facing Quality Attack Like Shaheen Afridi And Co.

Ahead of his side's Asia Cup Super Four clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, Indian batter Shubman Gill said on Saturday that not playing against a quality Pakistani bowling attack has proved to be a reason why Men in Blue are struggling to take on them at times. India will take on Pakistan in their Super Four Asia Cup clash at Colombo on Sunday. Talking about India's struggles with Pakistan's left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, Gill said in a pre-match press conference, "When you are playing at this level, you play left-armer pacers previously at some point of your career. We do not play Pakistan that much as compared to the other sides. They have a quality bowling attack. When you do not face such a bowling attack frequently and are not used to it, it makes a difference."