4.5 overs (0 Run)
No run.
4.4 overs (0 Run)
No run.
4.3 overs (1 Run)
1 run.
4.2 overs (4 Runs)
Four!
4.1 overs (0 Run)
Right on the money! Bowls it on a hard length on off and gets the ball to jag back in sharply. Kushal Bhurtel is caught on the crease and gets hit on the forearm.
3.6 overs (0 Run)
Loose shot! Length delivery, seaming away, outside off, Aasif Sheikh has a tentative push away from the body and gets beaten again.
3.5 overs (0 Run)
At 139 kph, on a good length, around off, Aasif Sheikh presents the full face of the bat and keeps it out on the off side.
3.4 overs (0 Run)
More like it by Siraj! Bowls with a wobble seam, on a good length, outside off, Aasif Sheikh has a feel for the delivery and is lucky to not edge it behind.
3.3 overs (1 Run)
In the air…but safe! Siraj bangs it in, at the batter, Kushal Bhurtel gets hurried on the pull. Gets it off the splice of the bat, in the air but behind square for a single.
3.2 overs (1 Run)
Targets the stumps, on a full length, on middle, Aasif Sheikh pushes with hard hands. Gets an inside edge to fine leg for a single.
3.1 overs (4 Runs)
FOUR! Easy pickings! Siraj errs in line and length, overpitches it on the pads, Aasif Sheikh brings his wrists into play and clips it through square leg for a boundary.
2.6 overs (1 Run)
Back of a length this time, on off, Aasif Sheikh waits on the back foot and dabs it past point. Retains the strike with a single.
2.5 overs (0 Run)
Tailing in sharply, on a good length, on middle and leg, Aasif Sheikh falls over a bit but manages to clip it towards mid-wicket.
2.4 overs (0 Run)
Beaten! This is bowled in the corridor of uncertainty on off, on a good length, seaming in, Aasif Sheikh has a poke away from the body and gets beaten on the inside edge.
2.3 overs (0 Run)
Angling in, in the channel on off, on a length, Aasif Sheikh mishits the drive to mid on.
2.2 overs (3 Runs)
Good intent! Good-length delivery, around off, Kushal Bhurtel shuffles cross and whips it past mid-wicket and picks up three runs.
2.1 overs (0 Run)
Shortish delivery, on middle, Kushal Bhurtel pushes it off the back foot to mid on.
1.6 overs (0 Run)
Shaping in, on a good length, on middle and leg, Aasif Sheikh misses the flick and wears it on the thigh pad.
1.5 overs (0 Run)
Back of a length, outside off, Aasif Sheikh frees his arms and slaps it on the bounce to Virat Kohli at cover.
1.4 overs (0 Run)
Fuller in length, honing in at the stumps, pushed back to the bowler by Aasif Sheikh.
1.3 overs (4 Runs)
Four Leg Byes! Drifts on the pads, on a length, Aasif Sheikh gets inside the line to tickle it fine. He misses and the ball rolls off his pads to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
1.2 overs (0 Run)
Much straighter this time, on a length, blocked out down the wicket.
1.1 overs (0 Run)
DROPPED AGAIN! What is happening? First Shreyas Iyer and now Virat Kohli of all people! Siraj starts off on a full length, outside off, Aasif Sheikh chips it straight to Virat Kohli at short cover who drops a sitter by not his but any standards. A lucky escape for Aasif Sheikh now.
Mohammed Siraj to take the other new ball.
0.6 over (2 Runs)
DROPPED! Shreyas Iyer at first slip has dropped a regulation catch! This is bowled short and outside off, a hint of away movement, Kushal Bhurtel throws his hands at the ball. Gets an outside edge that flies at a good height to Shreyas Iyer who fails to hang on. An early reprieve for Kushal Bhurtel and he picks up a couple of runs.
0.5 over (0 Run)
Brings his length back and hurls it on off, Kushal Bhurtel steps out again and taps it back to the bowler.
0.4 over (0 Run)
Seaming in this time, on a length, outside off, Kushal Bhurtel goes for the drive without much foot movement. The sneaks past the inside edge and just about carries to Ishan Kishan.
0.3 over (1 Run)
At 135, fuller in length, moving away, outside off, Aasif Sheikh hangs back and runs it down to third man. Gets off the mark with a single.
0.2 over (1 Run)
Kushal Bhurtel and Nepal are underway! On a good length, outside off, Kushal Bhurtel uses his feet and moves to the off side. Clips it wide of mid-wicket and opens his account with a single.
0.1 over (0 Run)
Swing straight away for Mohammad Shami! Begins in the channel on off, on a good length, shaping away, Kushal Bhurtel lets it go. The ball dies down on it’s way to Ishan Kishan.
All done with the pre-match proceedings and we are now ready for the play to begin. The umpires are out in the middle as the Indian players can be seen in a huddle. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh are the openers for Nepal. Mohammad Shami has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let’s play…
Just a few minutes left now for the game to begin. But first, the two teams and the officials line up for the national anthems. It will be the national anthem of Nepal first followed by the Indian national anthem.
Nepal’s skipper Rohit Paudel says that looking at the overhead conditions, they would have bowled first as well. Mentions that today is the biggest day in Nepal cricket. Adds that they want to showcase their skills to the world and that they are looking forward to this game. Informs that they have made one change to the side – Bhim Sharki comes in for Aarif Sheikh.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper says that they will bowl first. Adds that there’s no particular reason for it just that they batted first last time around and given the weather, there might not be a full game so wanted to test their bowling. Mentions that the way Hardik and Kishan batted in the last game after losing early wickets was good to see and it’s a positive sign for them and will look to come out on top here. Informs that they just have one change as Jasprit Bumrah has returned home for the birth of his child and Mohammad Shami comes into the team.
Nepal (Playing XI) – Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Bhim Sharki (In for Aarif Sheikh), Rohit Paudel (C), Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi.
India (Playing XI) – Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami (In for Jasprit Bumrah).
TOSS – The coin toss lands in the favour of India and Rohit Sharma has opted to BOWL first.
PITCH REPORT – Matthew Hayden and Sanjay Manjrekar are pitchside. Hayden says that the pitch is the same one used in the previous game. Adds that the pitch is nice and dry and the spinners will get some turn and bounce from it as well. Manjrekar adds that if India win the toss they might bowl first in order to test their bowling strength.
On the flip side, Nepal are coming off a crushing defeat against Pakistan in what was their debut game in the Asia Cup. With the ball, they began well, but shoddy fielding and below-par bowling allowed Babar Azam and Co. to get away. In front of Pakistan’s quality bowling attack, their batters stood no chance and will have their work cut out again, more so with the overcast conditions expected in this game. Skipper Rohit Paudel will have to lead from the front if they are to challenge this strong Indian unit. Can Nepal spring a surprise? Or will India cruise their way to the Super Four? Stick around to find out, as the toss and team news is not far away.
In India’s campaign opener against arch-rivals Pakistan, rain had the final say, and both sides settled for a point each. Having struggled against the moving ball in the last outing, the Indian batters will be hoping to gain confidence with some runs under their belt. India will be without the services of Jasprit Bumrah, who has flown back home for the birth of his first child, and he is likely to be replaced by Mohammad Shami for this game. Having not gotten an opportunity to test themselves out in the first game, India’s bowlers will be itching to get on the field here.
Hello and a warm welcome, folks! It is time for Group A action in the 2023 Asia Cup, where India take on Nepal at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy. This is a must-win game for both sides if they are to progress to the Super Four. As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to get better over the course of the day, but if the game gets called off due to rain, India will go through to the next stage.
… MATCH DAY …
A dedicated team of experts bring you live score, live cricket score, live match update on Sports.NDTV.com. After 5.0 overs, Nepal are 23/0. The live updates of India vs Nepal scorecard is also available. It is the perfect platform to follow your favourite teams in Asia Cup 2023. Keep a track on your favourite batsmen and bowlers through Asia Cup 2023 today match, ball by ball commentary, India vs Nepal, India vs Nepal live score, India vs Nepal scorecard. Follow the excitement of the Asia Cup 2023 on Sports.NDTV.com as you can follow live match updates and live cricket score through our platform.