Nepal vs India Prediction: This will be the first-ever international game between these two countries

Nepal will be facing off against India in the fifth game of the Asia Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. This will be the first-ever international game between these two countries. Who will win this game?

India form

In their highly anticipated match against Pakistan last Saturday, India was unfortunately denied a result due to adverse weather conditions, resulting in both teams sharing points. This places India in the second position within the group, prompting them to seek a convincing victory over Nepal to enhance their Net Run Rate (NRR) and secure the top spot in the table.

India's performance in the previous match, where they managed to post a respectable total of 266, has raised some concerns. The team has been grappling with selection dilemmas, and certain player performances have exacerbated the situation.

The top-order batsmen struggled, leaving India in a precarious position as they lost four wickets with only 66 runs on the board. However, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya demonstrated maturity by forging a crucial 138-run partnership, ultimately helping the team reach a competitive total.

To address these concerns, there might be a potential adjustment in the batting order, with Kishan potentially opening alongside the captain, while Gill and Kohli could drop down a spot. It's expected that the team will maintain an unchanged playing eleven.

In terms of the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack, supported by Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav will handle the spin bowling duties.

India Predicted Lineup

Shubhman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyash Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Nepal form

Nepal is making its inaugural appearance in the Asia Cup, sharing the stage with two of the tournament's strongest teams. Their initial match against Pakistan ended in a substantial defeat, and they are determined to deliver an improved performance.

At the top of the order, Nepal will rely on the batting prowess of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh. This opening duo has exhibited promising form and ranks among Nepal's leading run-scorers this year. Captain Rohit Paudel is slated to bat at number 3, underlining the importance of solid top-order contributions, especially against India's formidable seam attack.

Nepal boasts a considerable number of all-rounders, adding depth to their batting lineup. Dipendra Singh Airee has displayed good form in recent outings, while Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami made promising starts in the match against Pakistan and aspire to replicate their success in this fixture.

Sompal Kami, an experienced seamer, will spearhead Nepal's new-ball attack alongside Karan KC. Additionally, Sandeep Lamichhane, with prior IPL experience and knowledge of facing Indian batsmen, could prove valuable in this contest.

Nepal Lineup

Fakar Zman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c) , Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohd. Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah, Harris Rauf, Nasim shah

Expert betting tips

The pitch at Pallekele offers a balanced playing field. Initially, the seamers will find some movement, requiring cautious play from the batsmen. However, as the match unfolds, batting conditions will become more favourable, with limited turns available for the spinners.

A competitive score on this pitch is typically around 280 runs. The weather forecast indicates overcast conditions with the possibility of rain interruptions. Although India is currently facing some challenges with team balance and form, they possess significantly more experience than Nepal and should have little difficulty securing a victory against them.