India vs Pakistan: Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya help India post 266; fans praise duo on X

Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya were the star batters for India as the Men in Blue posted 266 all-out in 50 overs against Pakistan after opting to bat first in their Asia Cup 2023 campaign opener on Saturday.

IND vs PAK: Asia Cup 2023 Match LIVE

India made a disastrous start to their innings with rain halting the game multiple times. Shaheen Afridi removed Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (4), while Shubamn Gill (10) fell to Harid Rauf who also got the better of Shreyas Iyer (12) to reduce India to 66/4.

Watch: Shaheen bamboozles Rohit, Kohli

Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya however steadied the Indian innings with a solid 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Kishan, who was playing his first match against Pakistan, slammed 82 off 81 balls.

Kishan had been picked as a replacement for injured KL Rahul and the wicketkeeper-batter proved himself to be a perfect choice as he helped India to a respectable total with the support of Pandya.

All-rounder Pandya scored 87 off 90 before giving away a catch to extra cover fielder off a slower ball from Shaheen.

Kishan had got caught out off Rauf after he miscued a pull shot in the 38th over.

Both Kishan and Pandya earned a lot of praise on X (formerly Twitter) after their brave partnership.

Pandya stitched a partnership of 35 runs with Ravindra Jadeja before getting out in the 44th over.

Jadeja and Thakur’s partnership after Pandya’s dismissal only lasted for three runs as Pakistan pacers ran through the Indian lower order.

Jadeja (14) was dismissed by Shaheen, while Naseem Shah removed Thakur (3) and Kuldeep Yadav (4).

Making a return to ODI cricket, Jasprit Bumrah cracked 16 off 14 from the No 10 spot and smashed three fours before getting out to Naseem.

Mohammed Siraj stayed unbeaten on one.