The Indian men’s cricket team touched down in Colombo in preparation for the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023. The team is set to face Pakistan in the opening match on September 2nd. As they arrived at Colombo airport, notable figures within the team were seen engaging in conversations and sharing lighter moments, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie.

Virat Kohli, a seasoned batter, and versatile allrounder Hardik Pandya were observed deep in conversation while boarding the team bus. Meanwhile, the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, along with cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami, along with India’s head coach Rahul Dravid, were seen engrossed in lively chats, punctuated by shared laughter, as they settled into the bus.

Unfortunately, the Indian team will miss the presence of star batter KL Rahul during their opener against Pakistan. Although Rahul is recuperating well from an injury, a recent niggle prompted the decision for him to be under the supervision of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) until September 4th. Rahul’s progress has been positive, as confirmed by Dravid during a press conference.

Dravid remarked, “KL Rahul has made excellent progress under our care. Although he won’t be available for the initial phase of the Kandy leg of our journey, he’s under the watchful eye of the NCA during our travels. We’ll review his condition on September 4th and decide the next steps. His recovery is on the right track.”

The Asia Cup 2023 features Group A comprising Pakistan, India, and Nepal, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The tournament adopts a hybrid model, with four matches held across two venues in Pakistan and the remaining fixtures hosted by Sri Lanka.

The group stage will be followed by the Super Fours stage, commencing on September 6th, intensifying the competition among the leading teams.

The climactic showdown for the Asia Cup 2023 championship will take place on September 17th in Colombo. The final will feature the top two teams emerging victorious from the Super Fours stage.