- Bumrah unavailable as India face Nepal in rainy Pallekele
- India faces Nepal with a nearly full-strength squad, minus Jasprit Bumrah, who is absent due to the birth of his child.
- Kuldeep Yadav has become India’s leading spinner in ODIs this year, with 22 wickets in 11 innings.
- The India-Nepal match is threatened by heavy rain, reminiscent of the 2019 World Cup, with an 80% chance of precipitation.
- India may retain their batting lineup unless they include Suryakumar Yadav or Tilak, who performed well in the T20I series against West Indies.
- TV coverage of the Asia Cup 2023 match between Nepal and India is available on Disney+ Hotstar for fans worldwide.
Nepal struggled against Babar Azam’s Pakistan during their Asia Cup debut in Multan; they displayed glimpses of competitiveness, notably through disciplined performances by Karan KC and Sompal Kami.
However, they must avoid fielding mistakes against an almost full-strength India squad, missing only Jasprit Bumrah, who is absent due to his child’s birth. Ishan Kishan significantly impacted the previous match with 82 runs against a strong pace attack on a challenging pitch.
Since his ODI comeback in January, Kuldeep Yadav has solidified his position as India’s leading spinner in the format.
Cricket excitement in Nepal is at its peak! The unwavering support of fans for their team is truly extraordinary. Schools & colleges in various parts of Nepal are granting half-days holiday, so they can watch & enjoy the Nepal vs India match in the #AsiaCup#INDvNEP #NepalCricket pic.twitter.com/dM4JAlipCK
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) September 4, 2023
In ODI cricket this year, only Wanindu Hasaranga, Mark Adair, and Maheesh Theekshana from Full-Member nations have claimed more wickets than Kuldeep, who has taken 22 wickets in 11 innings. Kuldeep can further enhance his record on Monday, facing an opponent that may not be accustomed to high-quality left-arm wrist spin.
Also Read: Guide to watch Asia Cup live matches on Disney+ Hotstar for free
On the other hand, Lalit Rajbanshi specializes in the less flashy style of left-arm finger spin. He has often lived in the shadow of legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane throughout his career. However, he has contributed significantly to Nepal’s recent success with his defensive skills. His prowess was evident in the match against Pakistan in Multan, where he delivered 33 dot balls. In a game where Pakistan amassed 342 runs, Rajbanshi conceded just 48 runs in his ten overs.
India Vs Nepal is likely to be interrupted by rain at Pallekele Stadium.#AsiaCup#INDVSNEP pic.twitter.com/WdbJ515jKf
— Martin Grey (@jonmurphi2) September 4, 2023
Weather Conditions in Pallekele
Rain disrupted the India-Pakistan ODI match in Pallekele, potentially mirroring the 2019 World Cup experience. The India-Nepal game at the same venue on Monday is also under a threat of heavy rain, with an 80% chance of precipitation. If Monday’s game is washed out, India will advance to the Super Fours from Group A, following Pakistan.
Team News
During the match against Pakistan, Kishan appeared to face challenges with his running between the wickets, but he remained prepared to assume the wicketkeeping duties until persistent rain ultimately intervened.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah had to return home for the birth of his first child, with a likely return for the Super Fours stage. Either Mohammed Shami or Prasidh Krishna can replace Bumrah.
Regarding the batting lineup, India currently sees no compelling reasons for alterations unless they introduce Suryakumar Yadav or Tilak, who showcased amazing performances during the T20I series against West Indies.
India (probable):
- 1 Rohit Sharma (capt)
- 2 Shubman Gill
- 3 Virat Kohli
- 4 Shreyas Iyer
- 5 Ishan Kishan (wk)
- 6 Hardik Pandya
- 7 Ravindra Jadeja
- 8 Shardul Thakur
- 9 Kuldeep Yadav
- 10 Mohammed Shami/Prasidh Krishna
- 11 Mohammed Siraj
Nepal (probable):
- 1 Kushal Bhurtel
- 2 Aasif Sheikh (wk)
- 3 Rohit Paudel (capt)
- 4 Aarif Sheikh
- 5 Sompal Kami
- 6 Dipendra Singh Airee
- 7 Gulsan Jha
- 8 Kushal Malla
- 9 Karan KC
- 10 Sandeep Lamichhane
- 11 Lalit Rajbanshi
Fans have started to come in for India vs Nepal.
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) September 4, 2023
Bright and sunny as of now. #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/J55xFjxQ8h
Asia Cup 2023: Nepal vs. India TV Coverage
Fans can enjoy the Asia Cup 2023 clash between Nepal and India through TV coverage on Disney+ Hotstar. Viewers can use this streaming platform to watch the cricket match between India and Nepal from anywhere in the world.
