Team India started their final leg of preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 with a narrow win over defending champions Australia in the first warm-up match played at Gabba, Brisbane on Monday.
It was a superb team effort by the Men in Blue as they looked sharp with their skills. Before the first Super 12 match against Pakistan on October 23, it will serve as good preparation for all Indian players.
There were some impressive performances that stood out in the first warm-up match against the defending Champions Australia. Batting first, the visitors posted 186/7 thanks to half-centuries from KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav. Mohammed Shami shined with the ball on his return, defending 11 runs in the final over.
Here we look at the positives for Team India in the first warm-up match against Australia
#1 KL Rahul’s aggressive start
KL Rahul looked in sublime touch right from word go, putting enough pressure on the Australian pacers. He took on Mitchell Starc and other Aussies bowlers in the first 4 overs not allowing them to settle.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma looked steady giving strikes to Rahul. The Karnataka batter looked in great touch reaching fifty off just 27 balls making life tough for Australian bowlers. He was eventually dismissed caught by Agar at deep midwicket.
KL Rahul scored 57 off 33 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes giving the Indian team a flying start. Rahul and Rohit Sharma added 78 runs for the opening wicket.
#2 Suryakumar Yadav’s impressive form
Suryakumar Yadav show, this is just incredible consistency, fifty from 32 balls. pic.twitter.com/dzsQuwSrm4
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 17, 2022
Suryakumar Yadav continued his impressive form during the first T20 World Cup warm-up match against Australia. He came with the scoreboard reading 80/2. He took the attack to Ashton Agar after taking singles and doubles for the first few deliveries.
Despite losing wickets at the other end, he showed his class with innovative shots. He looked in great touch reaching fifty off 32 balls and was dismissed in the final over. The right-handed batter struck six fours and 1 six with a strike rate of 151.51.
#3 Impressive bowling effort by Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been struggling off late with rhythm. Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch provided a flying start for Australia taking advantage of the field restrictions. Bhuvneshwar got the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Mitchell Marsh ending a quickfire 64-run opening wicket partnership.
Glenn Maxwell and Finch was looking good to take the game away from India, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Maxwell caught by Dinesh Karthik. He ended with figures of 2/20 in three overs.
With the first match just a few days away, Bhuvneshwar Kumar would be looking to replicate his form in the second warm-up match against New Zealand. He can be a handful if provides early wickets.
#4 Mohammed Shami’s impressive death bowling
Mohammed Shami was brought in as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. He justified his performance with some terrific bowling in the final over. With 11 runs required, Shami got the wickets of Pat Cummins as Virat Kohli took a lovely one-handed catch at long-on. He nailed two brilliant yorkers to dismiss Josh Inglis.
With 7 runs needed off one ball, Shami nailed a brilliant yorker to dismiss Kane Richardson, helping India win the game by six runs. He was superb with the ball, picking up three wickets and giving away just 4 runs.
Mohammed Shami will look to keep up the rhythm going ahead of the T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on October 23.
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