The Indian team management is unlikely to make any changes in the playing XI for the second and final group game of the Asia Cup 2023, slated to be held in Pallekele on September 4.
The only forced change that India will have to make is to bring in either Mohammad Shami or Prasidh Krishna in place of Jasprit Bumrah, who flew to Mumbai last night for the birth of his first child.
It will be India's first international match against Nepal, who are entering the contest after a crushing 238-run defeat at the hands of Pakistan in Multan. On the other hand, India had to share a point with the Babar Azam-led side as the marquee encounter ended in a no-result due to incessant rain in Pallekele on Saturday (September 2).
Hence, it is a must-win game for both sides to qualify for the Super-4 stage of the continental tournament.
Ahead of the all-important fixture, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir suggested a rejig of the Indian batting order for the match against Nepal.
Gambhir wants Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill to open the innings followed by either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, citing that young batters should always be allowed to bat at their most comfortable position.
He also highlighted Kishan’s record double-century against Bangladesh as an opener in an ODI match last year.
Notably, Kishan produced a stunning knock of 81-ball 82 in India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan while batting at No. 5 after the top-order failed miserably.
"I feel Ishan should have opened for India with Shubman Gill. Now if Rohit wants to play at No. 3 then he can, then Kohli will be at No. 4 or the opposite. You should always allow a youngster to play at his most comfortable position. Yes you can debate that Rohit and Gill are a more settled opening pair, with Kohli usually playing at No. 3 and Shreyas Iyer at 4. But look at the form that Ishan Kishan is in right now. He has a 200 in ODIs, has scored three fifties in a row while opening in the previous tour," Gambhir said while speaking to Star Sports.
During the match against Pakistan, India’s top-order batters were found wanting against the likes of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
While Shaheen cleaned up Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Haris got rid of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer as Pakistan reduced India to 66/4 at one stage. It remains to be seen whether India would want to experiment in the game against Nepal with their top-order.
