India tour of Australia 2011/12

Kohli and Sharma steady the innings after top order collapse

Team India began their second practice match after putting on a successful batting display in the first game against Canberra XI. Team India decided to rest their senior pro in Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. In came the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag and the much awaited Zaheer Khan.

India – 162/4 in 50 overs

V Kohli – 55* (131)

Rohit Sharma – 38* (53)

CA Chairman's XI: David Warner (c), Edward Cowan, Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes, Tom Cooper, Alexander Doolan, Tim Ludeman (wk), Cameron Boyce, Josh Lalor, Jason Behrendorff, Jon Holland, Doug Bollinger (12th), Peter George

India: Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni (c), Virat Kohli, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Pragyan Ojha (12th), Umesh Yadav

Team India began their second practice match after putting on a successful batting display in the first game against Canberra XI. Team India decided to rest their senior pro in Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. In came the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag and the much awaited Zaheer Khan.

It was India’s turn to win the toss and the skipper MS Dhoni didn’t have any hesitation in batting first. However the match started with delayed start.

Virender Sehwag who was looking cautious out there hit one straight to gully of George in 4^th over managing only 12 runs of 12 deliveries. Ajinkya Rahane got another chance to bat at one down and he along with Gambhir put on a  32 run stand after which rain stopped play.

But after the gap, Lalor struck immediately with Rahane edging to Khawaja at slip for 15. In Walked Virat Kohli who looks to take the number 6 spot in the first test. Gambhir’s poor form continued as he got bowled for 24 and it was immediately followed by Laxman’s departure for 15.

Rohit Sharma who joined Virat Kohli had an early life dropped at short leg but at the end of the day, the duo shared an unbeaten 78 run stand taking India to 162/4 in 50 overs.

Kohli was unbeaten for 55 and Sharma remained unbeaten on 38 with the skipper to come for batting.