In a significant development for the Indian cricket team, Jasprit Bumrah, the prolific fast bowler, has made a triumphant return to the squad. His comeback comes after a brief hiatus from Asia Cup duties, where he had to tend to the birth of his first child. The timing couldn’t be better, as he has rejoined the team in Colombo, Sri Lanka, just in time for India’s highly anticipated first Super 4 match against arch-rivals Pakistan scheduled for Sunday. Coincidentally, his return aligns with an important announcement from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) regarding a reserve day for the impending clash.
Due to the persistent inclement weather that has been plaguing Colombo, the ACC has taken the prudent step of designating a reserve day for the crucial Sunday fixture. This precautionary measure ensures that if adverse weather conditions disrupt the game on the originally scheduled day, it will seamlessly continue on Monday from where it left off. It’s worth noting that while there are no reserve days allocated for the other Super 4 matches due to a tight schedule of back-to-back games, the final is set to have a reserve day in the event of rain.
Bumrah had temporarily departed Sri Lanka right after India’s initial Asia Cup game against Pakistan on September 2. Unfortunately, this absence resulted in him missing the second league match against Nepal on September 4. However, his timely return is a much-needed boost for the Indian team as they prepare for the intense Super 4 stage.
On the evening of his arrival, Bumrah will join his teammates for a practice session at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The team might have to resort to indoor practice due to the uncertain weather conditions, much like they did on Thursday. However, there is a glimmer of hope as rain has been notably absent in Colombo since Friday morning (at the time of publishing), raising expectations for a productive evening practice session.
The weather forecast for the upcoming week doesn’t paint an optimistic picture, with Colombo anticipating heavy rainfall, including a daunting 90 percent chance of rain on Sunday, the day of the India-Pakistan Super 4 clash. This weather uncertainty substantiates the ACC’s decision to arrange a reserve day for such a pivotal match. It’s worth noting that the India-Pakistan league game earlier in the tournament had to be abandoned due to persistent rain.
Saturday’s game, which features Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh, is also under the shadow of weather concerns, with an 85 percent chance of precipitation predicted. As the championship progresses into its critical phase, the role of weather in determining the outcome of matches is becoming increasingly significant.
Following the clash against Pakistan on Sunday, the Indian cricket team will lock horns with Sri Lanka on September 12 and then face off against Bangladesh three days later, on September 15. The only remaining Super 4 match will be contested between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on September 14, leading up to the grand final scheduled for September 17. All these exciting matches will be hosted at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Colombo Leg Schedule:
- September 9: Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh
- September 10: Pakistan vs. India
- September 11: Reserve Day
- September 12: India vs. Sri Lanka
- September 14: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka
- September 15: India vs. Bangladesh
- September 17: Final
- September 18: Reserve Day