India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: Virat Kohli vs Shaheen Afridi will be a key matchup on reserve day, says Mohammad Kaif

India are set to resume from their overnight score of 147/2 on the reserve day of their Asia Cup Super Four clash against Pakistan in Colombo, with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul batting on 8 and 17 respectively.

Kohli and Rahul had steadied the Men in Blue with an unbeaten third-wicket partnership that was worth 24 when heavy rains arrived at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Before that, skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill brought up attacking half-centuries and stitched a 121-run opening stand in 100 balls to put the Men in Blue on top.

Read | Workload concerns for IND-PAK match moved to reserve day

Ahead of start of play on the ‘Day 2’ of the India-Pakistan Super Four contest, former India batter Mohammad Kaif felt that Kohli’s battle with left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi would be a key match-up on the day. One that would play a big role in deciding the outcome of the game.

“Shaheen will continue to bring the ball in, bowling his inswing. He has told it himself that his game plan is very simple, bring the ball in and fast, whatever the batsman wants to do let him, his game plan is straightforward — bring the ball in, hit the pad and hit the stumps.

“So it will be exciting to see Virat Kohli in the form he is in to take him on; it is the most key matchup of the game. What makes Virat special is his ability to play in the big matches, and he won’t play on the backfoot. Naseem Shah, Afridi or Rauf, whoever is bowling, don’t play on the backfoot. If you get the chance, even on the first ball, look for the boundary,” Kaif said on Star Sports.

Afridi was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with figures of 4/35 the last time the two sides squared off, in the Group A fixture in Pallekele last Saturday. Afridi had removed both Rohit and Kohli back then to help reduce India to 66/4 at one stage. On Sunday however, Afridi leaked runs aplenty in the opening powerplay, going at over seven runs an over until he collected his first wicket by dismissing Gill.

Read | What happens if India vs Pakistan Super Four clash gets washed out?

Afridi, however, will be hoping to start afresh on Monday and will be eyeing an early breakthrough.

Kaif also spoke about Kohli’s impeccable record against Pakistan. The former India captain has produced some of his best knocks against India’s arch-rivals, including 183 in Dhaka in the 2012 edition of the Asia Cup.

“Overcoming challenges is one of Virat’s best qualities. That has become his habit. It’s a big match, and his record against Pakistan is great. Whenever he plays against Pakistan, his bat does the talking. And people have high expectations of him. People have expectations from someone who performs regularly.

“For newer players, as it is a big game, the expectations are not as high. But the senior players, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, if they fail, the fans don’t like it at all. There is no compromise on that; they have to perform with the bat and continue their form for the past two or three years and perform well at the World Cup also,” Kaif added.