3 key takeaways from India's warmup match vs PM XI ahead of 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
After an astounding win in the first Test in Perth, Team India played a practice match with PM XI in Canberra ahead of the second BGT Test. As the second Test in Adelaide will be a Day/Night affair, Team India played the said practice match with the pink ball under the lights.
The practice match was supposed to be a two-day affair. However, rain intervened on the first day, and hence, no play was possible. On the second day, both teams decided to play a 46-over match.
After being inserted to bat, PM XI were bowled out for 240 runs in 43.2 overs, with opener Sam Konstas scoring a brilliant century (107). Team India scored 257 for the loss of five wickets batting under lights and won the match.
On that note, here are three key takeaways from India's warmup match ahead of the second Test:
#1 Team India could continue with the same opening combination as that of the first Test
A match-winning partnership between KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings of the Perth Test may tempt the team management to continue with the duo opening the batting in Adelaide. The duo added 201 runs in 63 overs in the said innings.
Despite Rohit Sharma's return, the team management continued to open with Rahul and Jaiswal during the practice match. This could be an indication that the duo will in all likelihood open the batting once again in Adelaide. They added 75 runs for the opening wicket during the practice match.
Rohit Sharma, who batted at number four in the practice match, will have to bat in the middle-order in Adelaide. With Virat Kohli slated to bat at number four and Rishabh Pant tasting success at number five, the Indian skipper could bat at number six in Adelaide.
For the record, Sharma tasted success batting at number six in his early Test days. In 25 innings batting at number six, he averages almost 55 and has scored three centuries and six half-centuries.
#2 Shubman Gill passes fitness test
India Test number three, Shubman Gill missed out on playing the Perth Test due to a fractured thumb. He was racing in time to be fit ahead of the Adelaide Test.
Gill batted at number three in the practice match and showed no signs of discomfort. The right-hander scored a fluent 50 from 62 balls before retiring. He has proved his fitness in the practice match and will, in all likelihood, bat at number three in Adelaide.
Team India's batting line will be strengthened with Gill's return to the team. Gill has tasted success in 2024 and averages 47.41 in 19 Test innings with three centuries this year.
#3 Team India could field the same bowling combination in Adelaide
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were at their lethal best in Perth and picked up 13 of the 20 Aussie wickets in the said Test.
Harshit Rana scalped three wickets in the first innings in Perth but had to struggle to pick up his solitary wicket in the second innings.
With the likes of Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna waiting in the wings, Rana needed to show signs of form in the practice match.
The pacer did not disappoint. He picked up four wickets in the six overs he bowled in the practice match and has all but sealed his place in the playing XI for the second Test.
With Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar showing signs of form in the Perth Test, Team India could continue with the same bowling combination going into the second Test.