Practice match between India and Leicestershire
Reflexes
- Due to rain on the first day only 60.2 overs were played.
- India made a score of 246/8
- Kona Bharat remained unbeaten in 70
The Indian cricket team has kicked off its tour with a warm-up match in England. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the India team started playing a four-day practice match against Leicestershire from today, ie Thursday. Due to rain and bad weather, only 60.2 overs could be played on the first day.
India won the toss and decided to bat first, but it was not in their favour. The main order of the team from India completely failed. Half of the Indian team had returned to the pavilion in 100 races. Except for Kona Bharat, no player on the team was able to play big tackles. India scored 246/8 on day one helped by Bharat’s 70-run unbeaten innings. Bharat (70*) and Mohammed Shami (18*) are unbeaten on the Indian side.
India’s main order fails
Speaking of Indian innings, Indian captain Rohit Sharma (25) and Virat Kohli (33), who were battling their poor form during the Indian Premier League, once again disappointed. Both star batsmen were unable to play big innings despite staying in the crease. Rohit and Shubman Gill (21 for 28 balls) opened the innings. Gill seemed to have a good touch but Davies got goalkeeper Pant to catch him to give Leicestershire their first lead in the tenth with a score of 35 runs. Gill hit four fours in his innings. Walker then showed his mettle. The speedy bowler sent Rohit and Hanuma Vihari (03) to the pavilion in his successive overs. Krishna made India go 55 for four in the 21st by having Pant catch Shreyas Iyer without opening the count. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (13), who was ruled out of the IPL final stage due to injury, became Walker’s third victim.
Kohli couldn’t play a big tackle, Bharat scored half a century
Kohli and Bharat then attempted to drive the innings with a 57-run position for sixth wicket, but Walker dealt India the sixth strike by sacking the former lbw Indian captain. Kohli hit four fours and one six in his 69-ball innings. Walker took his fifth wicket with Shardul Thakur (06) lbw to bring India’s score to 148 for seven.
Important entries of Umesh and Shami
Bharat then shared a 66-run partnership for eighth wicket with Umesh Yadav (23) to take the team’s score to over 200 runs. Bharat completed his half century in 93 balls. Davis broke up the partnership by firing Umesh. Umesh hit four fours in his 32-ball inning. After this, Bharat and Shami did not allow India to take any more blows to the stumps. Meanwhile, Shami also hit sixes and fours on back-to-back balls from Davis. Leicestershire’s 21-year-old fast bowler Roman Walker gave Indian batsmen much concern and took five wickets for 24 runs.
Four Indian players playing from Leicestershire
To give all players a chance to practise, India’s specialist test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, goalkeeper Rishabh Pant and pacemaker Jasprit Bumrah and the famous Krishna are all playing for Leicestershire.
