India v West Indies A | Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma power visitors to 297 for five
An unbeaten century from Cheteswhar Pujara and a fluent half-century from Rohit Sharma helped push India's score to 297 for five at stumps on Day 1 of their practice match against West Indies ‘A’. The first of two Tests between the two nations will be played at Antigua from August 22.
Ahead of kicking-off their ICC World Test Championship, the Indians had a practice outing at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua – roughly 15 minutes away from the venue for the first Test. After winning the toss, India opted to bat first on Saturday with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal striding out to the crease.
The visitors got off to a brisk start, largely due to the flamboyant Rahul, who hit five fours and a six in his 46-ball stay at the crease. Agarwal, on the other hand, did not find the same fortune going for him and was cleaned up by Jonathan Carter. Carter was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with figures of three for 39.
Three overs after Agarwal’s dismissal, Rahul and stand-in captain, Ajinkya Rahane, fell in successive overs to leave India in a spot of bother at 53 for three. Rahane, who is captaining the side in place of Virat Kohli, who rested himself for the match, hasn’t scored a century in two years. And the vice-captain’s worrisome form is one of India’s two major concerns in the batting department in the longest format of the game.
The other one – the question of who will bat at No.5 – was answered in part by Rohit’s fluent 68. Rohit’s 115-ball stay at the crease included eight fours and one six. He and Pujara put on a 132-run stand for the fourth wicket. Pujara, India’s wall reincarnated, made an unbeaten 100 off 187 balls before he retired to provide game time for the other batters.
Hanuma Vihari – India’s other option at No.5 – and Rishabh Pant then pushed India’s total closer to the 300-run mark. Vihari made 37 not out, while Pant was trapped in front by Carter for 33. Ravindra Jadeja was alongside Vihari when rain ended proceedings for the day.
