Ishan and Hardik win a battle before rain mars proceedings

Both hit fifties and raise a 138-run stand after Pakistan pacers begin impressively, but weather forces game to be called off

- Somshuvra Laha 

KOLKATA: Concerns about the middle-order have been pressing of late, so much that India's toporder solidity has almost been taken for granted. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as openers, Virat Kohli at No.3 - we know what they can do if they get going. But Shaheen Shah Afridi forced India to confront exactly the scenario they were desperate to avoid. Two wickets in two overs and India were wobbling without Sharma and Kohli. Shreyas Iyer was looking in great touch till he pulled Haris Rauf straight to Fakhar Zaman at midwicket.

At 48/3, India were wading into a situation that probably was asking too much from Gill and Ishan Kishan - India's youngest double centurions because expectations in an India-Pakistan match don't always meet their desired ends.

Gill's tepid foot movement to an express delivery from Rauf further vindicated that. But Kishan dug in. And then played an innings unlike him, possibly his most important till date. This easily surpasses Kishan's double hundred simply because of the opposition, the tournament, the build-up to a World Cup where he isn't a first eleven pick and, not to forget, the distraction erratic showers bring with them.