Shaheen Afridi ripped through India’s top order, bagging the prized scalps of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as India struggled through the first hour of their rain-affected Asia Cup 2023 opener, against Pakistan.

Under overcast conditions, India opted to bat first, with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam also saying his team preferred to bat first. Before the first rain break, in the fifth over, India had started off cautiously, scoring 15-0.

Skipper Rohit Sharma could have fallen on the second ball of the innings, if not for a dropped catch, but recovered well and walked back on 11 in 16 when the rain came down for the first time.

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Shaheen, who had stuck to a fuller length in his first spell, changed his lengths post the break and started bowling a good length. The change worked just four balls after play resumed, as he dismissed Rohit with a ball that nipped back in to beat the opener’s defence. Rohit failed to add a single run to his tally after resumption and departed for a 22-ball 11.

Kohli, walking out at No.3 despite recent conversations of him playing a position lower to accommodate Ishan Kishan in the absence of KL Rahul, opened his account with a fine cover drive for a four against Naseem Shah. However, he was out soon after, falling to a delivery outside off stump.

The former India captain looked to play the ball through the off-side, but only managed a thin edge that went to crash into the stumps.

He departed for four and recorded his lowest total against Pakistan in any white-ball game since 2012.

England viewers can watch the dismissals here:

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India Rohit SharmaShaheen AfridiVirat KohliAsia CupMatch CoverageSeries Editorial