India vs India A Practice Match: Kohli Walks for 15, Pant Struggles

India vs India A Practice Match: Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant did not perform to the expected standards in the first innings of the 3-day practice match against India A at WACA; they looked a big disappointment.

By Palak Pathak Updated: Nov 15, 2024, 19:27 IST

As the battles for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy reach a fever pitch, India posed against India A in a low-key 3-day warm-up game at WACA. Jointly organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the match will get India's batsmen ready to face quality bowlers ahead of the challenge Australia presents, with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc.

India vs India A Practice Match: Kohli and Pant Struggle

The practice match between India and India A started on a troubling note for India as key players Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant failed to deliver in the first innings. Kohli managed only 15 runs before being caught at second slip, while Pant, who initially looked promising, succumbed to a short-pitched delivery and was bowled for 19 runs. Their lackluster performances raised concerns ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, highlighting areas for improvement against quality bowling attacks.

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Rishabh Pant Falls Prey to Short-Pitched Bowling

Rishabh Pant was also off-colour in the first innings, a poster boy after being hailed as India's hero in the recent whitewash against New Zealand. Pant provided good starts but fell to the hook when India A bowlers started short-pitched assaults on him. He got clean bowled to Nitish Kumar Reddy for 19 runs. This dismissal exposes a consistent weakness to well-directed short balls by the Australian pacers.

Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal Falls Early

The other promising young opener, too, failed to cut the ice-Yashasvi Jaiswal, whom everyone in Indian cricket is talking about as a bright new star. Jaiswal was dismissed when he had only 15 runs. He could not make much of his start.

The India A bowlers showed promising discipline in their attack, and both Mukesh Kumar and Nitish Kumar Reddy were excellent with the bat. It would do well for Indian depth if they could test top-tier batters with this sort of pace and accuracy, especially against the senior players.

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