Disappointment was writ large on Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma after Sarfaraz Khan’s dismissal at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday during the day-night warm-up match against Australia Prime Minister’s XI. In the 44th over of the Indian innings, Rohit was seen signaling to his two batters – Sarfaraz and Washington Sundar – to go big. But, just three balls later, Sarfaraz was caught down the leg side by the wicket-keeper off the bowling of Jack Clayton. Sarfaraz seemed confused about why he was given out and in the dressing room, Rohit covered his head in disappointment.
The reaction of the India skipper puzzled the commentator as he could not understand what exactly was the expression of him and he said on air – “Is he laughing or crying? I feel he is laughing”.
— The Game Changer (@TheGame_26) December 1, 2024
Returning from an injury of a left thumb, Shubman Gill top-scored with 50 runs as India beat Prime Minister’s XI by six wickets in the 50-over pink-ball warm-up game here at the Manuka Oval on Sunday.
With an ensemble cast and a stirring script, fast bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana took 4-44 as India bowled Prime Minister’s XI out for 240 in 43.2 overs. At the controls, Sam Konstas shone through via notching up a century in the 90-ball race, bringing home the entire prize with 107 runs for 97 balls with a confection of 14 fours and one six.
Gill, in response, struck seven boundaries in his 62-ball 50, and indicated his readiness to play in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval starting December 6. Other score contributors include Yashasvi Jaiswal (45), Nitish Reddy (42), Washington Sundar (42 not out), and Ravindra Jadeja (27) to wrap up India practice match victory with 19 balls left.
Indeed, even if Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant haven’t batted yet, what would please India most is seeing the way Jaiswal and Rahul navigated that tricky twilight period against the new pink ball. Only skipper Rohit Sharma has missed out on making a big score – otherwise, he has made three off 11 balls before nicking back to Charlie Anderson.
