Team India's preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England are in full swing, with an intra-squad match taking place at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham. Day 2 of the match provided a mixed bag of performances, with some players seizing the opportunity to shine while others struggled to make an impact. Sarfaraz Khan's explosive century was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, overshadowing Ruturaj Gaikwad's disappointing duck.
Sarfaraz Khan, representing India A, made a compelling statement with a blistering knock of 101 runs off just 76 balls. His innings was characterized by aggressive intent, as he smashed 15 boundaries and two sixes, putting the Indian bowlers under immense pressure. This performance comes on the heels of his impressive 92 against England Lions in an unofficial Test, further solidifying his credentials in English conditions. Despite not being initially named in the Test squad, Sarfaraz's consistent performances are making a strong case for his inclusion, demonstrating his resilience and determination to prove his worth. Observers including Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chairman of selectors, and VVS Laxman, Head of the National Cricket Academy, were present at the match.
In contrast to Sarfaraz's heroics, Ruturaj Gaikwad endured a tough outing. The India A captain was dismissed for a duck, falling prey to Mohammed Siraj's bowling. Gaikwad's early dismissal set a shaky tone for India A, and he will be looking to bounce back in the remaining innings. The match was meant to provide crucial acclimatization to English conditions, particularly after Gaikwad's recent signing with Yorkshire.
Apart from Sarfaraz and Gaikwad, other batsmen also had notable performances. Sai Sudharsan contributed a steady 38, while Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 45, providing valuable runs for India A. Washington Sundar, after being dismissed for a duck in his first attempt, showed resilience with a score of 35 in his second innings. Abhimanyu Easwaran, the India A captain, contributed 39 runs. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill had also scored half-centuries on Day 1.
The Indian bowling attack had a mixed day. While Mohammed Siraj managed to pick up two wickets, he proved to be expensive, conceding runs at a high rate. Prasidh Krishna also took two wickets, while Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed one. However, Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, had an uncharacteristically quiet day, going wicketless in his seven overs. His performance has raised some concerns about his rhythm and readiness for the upcoming Test series. Arshdeep Singh also went wicketless. Shardul Thakur, however, had a good outing with the ball on Day 1 and remained not out on 19 at the end of Day 2.
At the end of Day 2, India A stood at 299 for 6, trailing the main India side by 160 runs. This intra-squad match serves as a crucial opportunity for the players to fine-tune their skills and acclimatize to the conditions before the highly anticipated Test series against England, which commences on June 20th. With the series marking the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle, India will be keen to start on a positive note. The series also marks the beginning of a new era for Indian Test cricket, with Shubman Gill leading the side.
