The Indian team played its first warm-up game against Australia A at the Drummoyne Oval in Sydney. This game is seen as a dress rehearsal before the Border-Gavaskar Test series which starts from December 17. Meanwhile, both Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill were dismissed for ducks as India ended the day on 237 for 8, courtesy a century from Ajinkya Rahane. Cheteshwar Pujara also scored 54 off 140 balls.
Gill and Shaw both are part of India’s Test squad for the four-match series. While Shaw will be partnering Mayank Agarwal at the top, Gill is among the potential replacements for Virat Kohli at number four in the last three Test matches.
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The Indian team featured all their Test specialists including Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and R Ashwin. Australia also has some of their Test specialists in the XI in the form of Travis Head, Tim Paine, Joe Burns, and Marcus Harris. Rahane and Head are leading their respective sides in the warm-up game.
Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill Dismissed For Ducks
Shubman Gill ✅
Prithvi Shaw ✅The Aus A side had the perfect start against the Indians in Sydney
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After the dismissal of Gill and Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the ship for India. Shubman Gill was caught at slip by Marcus Harris, while Prithvi Shaw was caught by Tim Paine.
Rahane, who won the toss and decided to bat, watched the ball closely and punished anything over-pitched or short to pick up 16 boundaries and a six during his long stay at the crease. Pujara struck form right away and his innings was laced with five fours.
The likes of Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin had a bad outing with the bat. Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed in the 47th over, caught at leg gully by Harris off Pattinson.
For Australia, James Pattinson took three wickets. Michael Neser and Travis Head took two wickets each, while Jackson Bird took one. At stumps, Rahane and Mohammed Siraj (0) were at the crease.
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