India Versus Pakistan, Asia Cup: Task Cut Out For Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill And Virat Kohli vs Pakistan's Pace Trio

India's top-order, consisting the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, faces a stern test at the expense of Pakistan's pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf when both team face-off in a Group A match of the ongoing Asia Cup on Saturday in Kandy. In recent times, Indian openers have struggled to negate the threat possessed by left-arm pacers, including Shaheen. In the past few meetings between the two sides, the Pakistan pacers have proved to be a tough nut to crack.

Last year, India and Pakistan faced off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the T20 World Cup. Rauf and Naseem troubled India's top-order during a 160-run chase.

While the likes of Rohit, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav didn't not have any answers to the pace of swing off Rauf and Naseem, Kohli played a sensational knock to rescue India from the jaws of defeat.

Kohli's lofted check-drive off Rauf under Melbourne skyline became a part of Indian cricket fans' muscle memory while Pakistani's rejoiced when Rohit failed to negotiated a lethal tailing-in delivery from Shaheen and was caught plumb during the T20 World Cup in 2021.

Such performances help players grow into legends and Saturday's Asia Cup game will be another opportunity for cricketers from both the sides to emerge as heroes.

However with steady rain predicted in the hilly Kandy region on Saturday, an anti-climax to a mouth-watering clash can't be ruled out.

The Indian team, which is yet to fit-in all the jigsaw puzzles will be hoping that their 'holy trinity' of skipper Rohit, peerless Kohli and his heir apparent Shubman Gill is ready to fight fire with fire against Shaheen, Rauf and the feisty Naseem Shah.

Overcast conditions and a bit of nip in the air is all that