During the Asia Cup 2023 match against Nepal, Virat Kohli’s costly fielding blunder was just one example of India’s disappointing performance in the field.

In the second over of the match, Aasif Sheikh played a loose shot off Mohammed Siraj, resulting in the ball heading straight towards Virat Kohli at cover point. It appeared to be a straightforward catch, but Kohli’s attempt ended in disaster as he failed to hold on, and the ball bounced out of his hands. This lapse in the field was a significant setback for India early in the game.

The fielding woes continued for India as the match progressed. On the last ball of the first over, Shreyas Iyer also failed to capitalize on a relatively manageable catch at the slips. These missed opportunities allowed Nepal to make a strong start, while India struggled to hold on to crucial catches. A couple of overs later, another chance slipped through India’s grasp when Ishan Kishan misjudged an attempted catch behind the stumps.

Prior to the match, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first, explaining that the team wanted their bowlers to get a game under their belt. He also mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable, and Mohammed Shami would replace him in the lineup.