India team’s practice match against Leicester is turning out to be a mind-blowing affair. At the end of day two, the Indian team managed to bowl out the opposition with a 2-run lead and are sitting pretty at 80 for 1. The dour and overcast day at Leicester was lit up by the blade of one man and that was none other than Rishabh Pant. This 4-day practice match will help the Indian team get back into groove for the red ball format after months of playing the shortest format of the game.
Rishabh Pant gets back into form –
There is no denying the talent that Rishabh Pant has as a cricketer. The last few months though have been tough for the 24-year-old. He failed to lead his team into the final four of the TATA IPL 2022 season. Pant then led India and had a torrid time with the bat scoring mere 57 runs against the visiting Proteas team. On Friday, he seemed to get back his groove with the bat. The moment of the day came when he played one of most amazing shots to reach his 50. Pant got a ball on the leg stump from Umesh Yadav, the 24-year-old sat down on his knees to flick or let’s say “Scoop Flick” it for a six to reach his 50.
Rishabh Pant hits a six against Umesh Yadav.#RishabhPant #LEIvIND pic.twitter.com/3dWWZEo6HT
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Indian bowlers have a good work out –
India declared the innings at their overnight score of 246 for 8, in a bid to give their bowlers a go. Shami got into the act right away as he first had captain Samuel Evans out for 1. The 31 year old then got rid of Pujara for a six ball duck and gave him a hug while walking back to the hut (https://cricketcult.com/news/Watch!-Mohammad-Shami%E2%80%99s-reaction-after-dismissing/cid7905233.htm ). When Joey Evison fell the score was 71 for 4, that’s when Pant and Rishi Patel joined forces. The two scored at a quick rate and added 58 for the 5th wicket in 15 overs. Patel was out for 34 to become Shami’s 3rd wicket. Sam Bates fell to Thakur for 6 with the score reading 138 for 6, from there it was the Pant and Walker show who added 70 runs in nearly 11 overs.
Jadeja mops up the tail –
Captain Rohit Sharma threw the ball to Ravindra Jadeja who has been down on confidence in recent times. Jadeja made the breakthrough when he had Pant caught by Iyer for 76 off 87 balls with 14 fours and a six. Jadeja got the wickets of Walker and Bowley before Thakur disloged Sakande to dismiss the home side for 244. India got a 2-run lead and every bowler barring Umesh Yadav got a wicket.
Crucial match practice for the batters as Saini makes his presence felt –
Armed with a 2-run lead, Shubman Gill opened with KS Bharat at the top to give rest to Rohit Sharma. Gill began on a positive note as he went after Prasidh Krishna in particular. India were motoring along at nearly five runs an over, before Saini who is in England as a net bowler got the wicket of Gill. The opener was out for 38 off 34 balls with 8 fours caught by Sam Bates off Saini. Vihari and Bharat saw off the day without much damage. Bharat was on 31 off 59 balls with 5 fours, while Vihari was batting on 9 off 16 balls with 1 four.