Asia Cup: Kohli, Rahul smash centuries as India hand Pakistan mammoth 357-run target

• India, Pakistan resume play on Monday after rain suspended the match on Sunday
• Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf sits out India match due to discomfort in right flank

ISLAMABAD: Indian batters Virat Kohli and K.L. Rahul smashed unbeaten centuries to hand Pakistan a mammoth 357-run target in Colombo, as the two sides locked horns at the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023 tournament on Monday. 

India resumed their innings at 147/2 from 24.1 overs as play began after intermittent rain halted the match on Sunday. Former Indian skipper Kohli remained unbeaten on 122 runs from 92 balls at a strike rate of 129.79 while Rahul remained not out on 111 from 106 balls at a strike rate of 104.72 when India’s innings ended. Kohli’s century brought him another impressive feat as the Indian batter finally managed to complete 13,000 runs in ODIs. 

“India set a target of 357 runs following Rahul and Kohli’s centuries,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote on social media platform X.

India had earlier gotten off to an impressive start, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill making a century-stand before Pakistan vice-captain Shadab Khan removed the Indian captain for 56. Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi then dismissed Gill for 58, and that was the final wicket Pakistan took during that innings.

 Afridi finished with figures of 1/79, Khan 1/71, Faheem Ashraf 0/74 and Iftikhar 0/52 from 5.4 overs as the Pakistani bowlers took a battering at the hands of the Indian batters. Naseem Shah was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, 0/53 from 9.2 overs at an economy rate of 5.68. 

“Very special for us,” Gill said after India’s innings came to a close. “To score century in these conditions (KL) was magnificent. Virat’s century and 13,000 runs show he’s an inspiration.”

Pakistan captain Babar Azam was deprived of pacer Haris Rauf, who was rested during the match as a precautionary measure after he suffered a strain in his right flank, the PCB said in a statement. 

“He was subsequently taken for a precautionary MRI, which revealed no tear,” the PCB said. “He is under the observation of the team’s medical panel.”

According to cricket website ESPNcricinfo, with more rain forecast for the day, Pakistan will most likely chase 187 runs if the match becomes a 20-over fixture. 

Rain, which has so far played a spoiler in throughout the tournament, washed out the first fixture between the two sides on Sept. 2 after India were bowled out for 266 in the 49th over.