- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
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Game time is at a premium for teams as the World Cup edges closer. India's key players have either been kept out by lengthy injuries or have been periodically rested during the last two T20 World Cup years. And in that respect, the Sri Lankan monsoon isn't helping. For example, it remains to be seen how pace ace Jasprit Bumrah holds up after bowling 10 overs in a competitive match or how Rohit Sharma sees him dovetail with the rest of the bowling line-up in the game's different phases.
The batters too need to switch to the rhythms of the 50-over game and discover the dynamics of batting with each other. Among them, Shubman Gill is in need of a good hit-out, tailing off somewhat in the second half of the year after establishing himself as an all-format player. He has a solitary half-century in his last seven ODI innings and a few misfires now could just set the cat among the pigeons. He, along with Rohit and Virat Kohli, have a tempo-setting job at the top of the order and will need to ensure the middle-order isn't always called to put out fires, even though Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya did so expertly in the last game. India are aware of their batting insecurities and it is part of the reason why they have to field Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder at No.8 over a pure bowler in Mohammed Shami.
This World Cup is least of Nepal's concerns. They will have an eye on the next 14-team edition of 2027. And it is not everyday they get to play against the big boys of international cricket at full strength. In a way, it is validation for their rapid recent rise. They made it here by winning the ACC Premier Cup in April-May and gave a decent account of themselves in the opener with the new ball even if their fielding veered from the exquisite to crude. A truncated game, as it seems likely, would help bridge the talent and experience deficit between the two sides.
When: India vs Nepal, September 4, 15:00 Local Time
Where: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
What to expect: Teams and fans in Pallekele will be advised to brave another start-stop fixture with thundershowers forecast for the most of Monday. Expect fast bowlers to seek seam movement aided by the trapped moisture in the pitch, as Shaheen Shah Afridi did on Saturday.
Team News:
India
KL Rahul is ruled out for at least one more game and that means India are unlikely to tinker with the composition of their team. Ishan Kishan was available to keep wickets before rain washed out the second innings of the Pakistan game. That should be indication enough that the bout of cramps he suffered while batting isn't serious.
Nepal
Nepal could consider bringing 21-year-old batter Bhim Sharki into the XI. He lost his place after a string of low scores but it wasn't too long ago that he reeled off half-centuries against USA and Oman (warm-up) at the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
Squads:
India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Prasidh Krishna, Tilak Varma
Nepal Squad: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(w), Rohit Paudel(c), Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi, Bhim Sharki, Kishore Mahato, Sundeep Jora, Pratis GC, Arjun Saud, Mousom Dhakal
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Looks like we're set for an on-time start. 
