Team India's intra-squad match simulation: KL Rahul struck on the elbow as batters find the going tough at the WACA
Team India batter KL Rahul left the field after being struck on the elbow during an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA on Friday, November 15. There were reports of Virat Kohli too undergoing scans for an unknown injury, but he looked fit during the match simulation even as he continued to struggle for batting rhythm.
India will kick off their Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against Australia with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth starting November 22. After practicing for three days at the WACA nets, India began their match simulation with an XI featuring the main players against the fringe and India A players.
As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, Rahul opened with Yashasvi Jaiswal but was struck on his right elbow by a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna. Rahul left the ground and was given medical attention and did not come out to bat later even as the others took a second turn.
Jaiswal was caught at second slip for 15. Kohli hit a couple of good strokes, but he too perished for 15, caught at second slip off Mukesh Kumar's bowling. Keeper-batter Rishabh Pant took a blow on the groin and was subsequently bowled by Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Shubman Gill spent a decent amount of time at the crease and made 28 runs before fending a short-of-a-length delivery from Navdeep Saini to gully.
Jaiswal, Gill impress during second stint in Team India's match simulation
Being a simulation, India's key batters got another chance to take strike. This time, Jaiswal made 58* and Gill 42*. Kohli played a missed a few balls before finding his rhythm with some backfoot strokes. The right-handed batter ended up making 30.
Pant was out for the second time in the day as he was bowled by Mukesh for 24. Dhruv Jurel and Akash Deep were together towards the end of play as the batting side made 339 for 8 in the match simulation in 75 overs. The simulation is likely to continue over the weekend as well.