The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement as two arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, prepare to lock horns in the Asia Cup at the picturesque Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka. With a capacity of 35,000, this stadium promises an electrifying atmosphere as fans from both sides eagerly await this high-stakes encounter.

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Pallekele, Sri Lanka
Dimensions: 80m long, 75m wide
Stadium Capacity: 35,000
Match Start Time: 3 PM IST

Pitch Report:


The pitch at Pallekele generally favors the quick bowlers early in the innings but as the match progresses the spinners slowly start getting advantage from the surface. The toss is a crucial factor, as bowling first is the preferred option.

India vs Pakistan: Arch Rivalry


The clash between India and Pakistan is always a spectacle, and the Asia Cup adds an extra layer of intensity. In the 17 meetings between these cricketing giants in the Asia Cup, India has triumphed in nine matches, while Pakistan has clinched victory in six. Two encounters ended without a result.

Team India Squad: 

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, K L Rahul (wk), Sanju Samson (Reserve)

FanRank's Team India Probable Playing 11: 

Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

The rationale behind the team selection: 

We selected Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan as the openers. They produce a left-right combination, have excellent understanding, and can play aggressive cricket in the powerplay overs. We put experienced Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma at three and four, respectively, because they can control the game in the middle overs and set the tone for the game.

It is a tough call between Tilak Verma and Suryakumar Yadav, but we chose SKY as he can be destructive at no. 5, followed by the two all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja at no. 6 and 7.

With Hardik Pandya in the lineup, India can afford to bolster their batting lineup with Shardul Thakur at no. 8. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj will spearhead the attack. Siraj's form gets him into the playing 11 over Shami.

Pakistan Squad: 

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (reserve)

Pakistan Probable Playing 11: 

Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

Pallekele's Historical Stats:

Here are some intriguing stats from Pallekele Stadium:

  • Total matches played: 37
  • Won batting first: 15
  • Won bowling first: 21
  • Avg1st ins scores: 248
  • Avg 2nd ins scores: 201
  • Highest total: 363/7 (50 Ov) by SA vs SL (2018)
  • Lowest total: 70/10 (24.4 Ov) by ZIM vs SL (2022)
  • Highest score chased: 314/6 (49.4 Ov) by SL vs AFG
  • Lowest score defended: 206/9 (36 Ov) by WI vs SL

India vs Pakistan: A Storied Rivalry

The clash between India and Pakistan is always a spectacle, and the Asia Cup adds an extra layer of intensity. In the 16 meetings between these cricketing giants in the Asia Cup, India has triumphed in nine matches, while Pakistan has clinched victory in six. Two encounters ended without a result, highlighting the competitiveness of this rivalry.



Weather Forecast: Rain Looms Large

As the cricket world holds its breath for this epic clash, the weather report paints an uncertain picture. A 70% chance of rain is predicted during the Kandy encounter, with precipitation expected around 2:30 PM, just half an hour before the scheduled start. While the rain chances are expected to decrease to 60% by 5:30 PM, fans and players alike will be anxiously tracking the skies.

Here's a breakdown of the rain probabilities:

  • 3:00 PM: 58%
  • 5:00 PM.: 34%
  • 7:00 PM.: 60%
  • 9:00 PM.: 60%