Jasprit Bumrah, it seems, not just worked on his recovery from injury but put in the hard yards with his batting during his 11-month time away from competitive action. In India’s Asia Cup 2023 opener against Pakistan in Pallekele, Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with the bat, hitting a handy 16 as India posted 266 in 48.5 overs against Pakistan.

Jasjrpti Bumrah’s 16 is his career-best score with the bat as he played a handy knock, helping India go past 250 after they lost a flurry of wickets in the death overs.

Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan updates

Bumrah hit 3 boundaries for his 14-ball 16 before he got out to Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah in the 49th over of the Indian innings. It was the first time in an Asia Cup match that all 10 wickets fell to pacers as the trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem troubled India with their pace and movement on a rain-affected Saturday in Kandy.

Jasprit Bumrah looked impressive as he hit Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi for boundaries after walking into bat at No. 10.

India lost wickets in a hurry in two phases of their innings after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat in Pallekele. Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan added 138 for the 5th wicket but there was no other considerable partnership for the 6-time champions.

Hardik Pandya hit 87 while Ishan Kishan notched up 82, the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper against Pakistan in Asia Cup.

Shaheen Afridi’s new-ball burst saw India losing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply after which Haris Rauf got the wickets of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

Shaheen rocked India again in the end overs, picking up the wickets of Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja in the same over.

It was a responsible knock from Hardik and Ishan who took the onus of scoring the runs after India’s big guns failed in the Asia Cup 2023 opener.

Shaheen was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with figures of 4 for 35 in 10 overs, including 2 maidens.