Team India are all set to begin their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on Saturday (September 2).
This will be the first meeting between the two sides in ODI cricket since the 2019 World Cup. The arch-rivals have faced each other only in the 20-over format in the last couple of years.
Ahead of the blockbuster clash, former cricketers Irfan Pathan and Wasim Jaffer have named their India playing XI.
The Men in Blue won’t have the services of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul for the first two matches due to a fresh niggle, as confirmed by head coach Rahul Dravid earlier this week.
In Rahul's absence, Ishan Kishan is likely to take over the keeping duties. While Pathan picked Kishan as an opener in his team, Jaffer slotted the southpaw at No. 3. Both of them placed Virat Kohli at No. 4 in the batting order.
In the bowling department, Pathan went with the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj whereas Jaffer added Shardul as third seamer by excluding Shami.
“Looking at the conditions here in candy this is my playing 11. The actual playing 11 will be different I think. 1) Rohit 2)Gill 3) Ishan 4) Virat 5) Shreyas 6)Jadeja 7) Hardik 8)kuldeep 9) Shami 10)Bumrah 11) Siraj. Will explain more in the pre show of the game,” Pathan wrote on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
On the other hand, Jaffer posted: “My India XI vs Pakistan: Rohit Ishan Gill Kohli Iyer Hardik Jadeja Shardul Kuldeep Bumrah Siraj What's yours?”
While Pakistan have opened their Asia Cup campaign with a crushing 238-run victory over Nepal in Multan on August 30, it will be India’s first game in the continental tournament.
