India Team Practice Match Scorecard Summary - Day 2 | Indian Cricket team intra squad practice match at WACA, Perth

Jasprit Bumrah Shines as Leader, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma to Miss First Test

The second day of India’s match simulation at the WACA in Perth brought more intense action and several key developments. Jasprit Bumrah once again asserted his leadership qualities, while the senior bowlers continued to trouble India's batting lineup on a challenging surface.

However, the day also delivered setbacks for Team India as Shubman Gill sustained a finger injury in the slips, ruling him out of the first Test starting November 22. Meanwhile, captain Rohit Sharma confirmed his absence as he stays back in India with his family after the birth of his son.

Scoreboard Highlights: (The scorecard is based on spectator observations and sources, as no official updates were provided during the closed-door simulation)

Batting Highlights:

• Ruturaj Gaikwad: 48 (67 balls, 4 sixes) – Commanding knock, including two sixes off Ashwin.
• Sarfaraz Khan: 28 (36 balls, 1 four) – Brief but impactful counter-attacking cameo.
• Devdutt Padikkal: 12 (25 balls) – Trapped lbw by Bumrah.

Bowling Highlights:

• Jasprit Bumrah: 1 wicket – Dismissed Padikkal with a sharp inswinger.
• Mohammed Siraj: 2 wickets – Fiery spell troubling right-handed batters.
• Harshit Rana: 2 wickets – Consistent use of the short-ball tactic.
• Akash Deep: 1 wicket – Applied Bouncers, short-ball strategy
• Mukesh Kumar: 1 wicket – Maintained discipline and accuracy, troubling all batters.

Bowlers Dominate on Lively WACA Surface

The WACA pitch continued to test the batters with its bounce and lateral movement, producing several dismissals off edges behind the stumps. India’s senior bowlers, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, were relentless in exploiting these conditions.

• Jasprit Bumrah: The star pacer led the attack with sharp spells, troubling the openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Devdutt Padikkal. His pinpoint accuracy and control ensured batters never settled.
• Harshit Rana: Rana impressed as the enforcer with his short-ball strategy, troubling multiple batters, including Ruturaj Gaikwad. Despite conceding a six to Gaikwad, Rana’s bouncers consistently put the batters under pressure and earned him two key dismissals.
• Mukesh Kumar: Following a strong performance on Day 1, Mukesh continued his fine run, troubling batters with his movement and pace. His consistent performances have sparked discussions about his potential inclusion in the first Test.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Provides Resistance

While most batters found the going tough, Ruturaj Gaikwad stood out with a spirited innings. Batting for over an hour, he hit four sixes, including two off Ravichandran Ashwin, one off Washington Sundar, and a hook shot against Harshit Rana. Gaikwad’s counter-attacking approach offered a rare glimpse of control and aggression on the tricky surface before he was dismissed by Sarfaraz Khan.

Injuries Cloud India’s Preparations

The day was marred by two major setbacks for India:

• Shubman Gill: Gill injured his finger while fielding in the slips during the session. The injury has ruled him out of the first Test and potentially sidelines him for two weeks. His absence is a significant blow to India’s top-order plans.
• Rohit Sharma: The Indian skipper may confirm his unavailability for the first Test after staying back to welcome his newborn son. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead the team.

Scoreboard Highlights

India Batters:

• Abhimanyu Easwaran: Struggled against the moving ball and fell chasing a wide delivery off Bumrah.
• Devdutt Padikkal: Showed glimpses of resilience but found it challenging to rotate the strike against disciplined bowling.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad: 48 (67 balls, 4 sixes) – Counter-attacked with flair, dispatching four sixes but fell to Sarfaraz Khan.

Bowling Highlights (Senior Side):

• Jasprit Bumrah: Lethal opening spell, maintaining pressure throughout the session.
• Harshit Rana: 2 wickets – Impressed with a consistent short-ball strategy and dismissed key batters.
• Mukesh Kumar: Continued to impress with his movement and bounce, troubling all batters.

Leadership and Depth Come to the Fore

Jasprit Bumrah’s role as a leader was evident throughout the day. In addition to his sharp spells, Bumrah spent time mentoring Prasidh Krishna and held a lengthy discussion with Gautam Gambhir during the lunch break. His involvement on and off the field signals readiness to lead in Rohit Sharma’s absence.

As India’s warm-up matches continue, the focus will remain on fine-tuning their lineup and strategies. The injuries to Gill and Rahul have opened new questions in the batting order, but the bowlers’ form offers a silver lining. With just a few days left before the first Test, India will need to address their batting inconsistencies on the lively WACA surface.