A packed Brabourne Stadium played host to the first warm-up match between India ‘A’ and England XI. The game was billed as MS Dhoni’s last appearance as captain even as Yuvraj Singh’s comeback into the ODI squad remained another major talking point.
Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to insert the hosts in on an even-paced surface. After an early hiccup, India ‘A’ managed to compile a robust total. Despite a stern examination by spin during the middle-overs, England XI had enough firepower to get past the finishing line.
Brief Scores: India A – 304/5 from 50 overs (Rayudu 100**, Dhoni 68*, Dhawan 63, Yuvraj 56, Willey 2/55); England XI – 307/7 from 48.5 overs (Billings 93, Roy 62, Buttler 46, Kuldeep 5/60)
Result – England XI won by 3 wickets with 7 balls remaining
(**Note: Ambati Rayudu retired out at the end of the 41st over)
#5 Shikhar Dhawan’s sedate start
After being kept out of action due to a thumb injury, Shikhar Dhawan saw his Test spot usurped by KL Rahul. At the beginning of last year, he was dropped for the semi-finals of the 2016 World T20. With a flurry of promising batsmen emerging, the left-hander needs to have an eye-catching 3-match series against England to salvage his ODI place.
Alongside a cautious Mandeep Singh at the other end, Dhawan too struggled to find his rhythm straightaway. With the singles not coming easily, he shifted his attention to finding the boundary. However, England’s bowlers did not give an inch, which piled on the pressure.
As Ambati Rayudu added impetus to the innings, Dhawan too began to get into the groove. Upon labouring to an 84-ball 63, his stay was ended by a good length delivery from Jake Ball.
#4 Ambati Rayudu puts his hand up
Rayudu is one batsman who might have been hard done by the Indian selectors. His ODI record is highly commendable with 1055 runs from 34 matches at an average of 50.23, including 2 tons and 6 fifties. He was not considered for the home series against New Zealand and has also been left out for both upcoming limited-overs series against England.
Sensing the importance of making a strong statement, Rayudu batted fluently right from the moment he walked into the middle.
By finding the gaps and manipulating the bowlers' lengths, he infused energy into a flagging Indian innings. After reaching a 97-ball century, the 31-year old left the arena so as to help Dhoni gain valuable match practice.
#3 The good old days are back!
One of the major reasons for India developing into a powerhouse ODI team during the early part of the 2000s was the combination of Yuvraj and Dhoni in the lower middle-order. The wicket-keeper batsmen’s bludgeoning approach complemented the southpaw’s flamboyance. There was a time (around the 2006 season) when the duo played an instrumental role in propelling India to a slew of successful chases.
Extra Cover: Fan falls at MS Dhoni's feet during India A-England warm-up match
This was a different setting – the platform had been laid for setting a formidable target for England and the crowd geared up to witness fireworks towards the business stage of the innings.
Although Dhoni and Yuvraj only added 23 runs in their fourth-wicket partnership, they had provided an exhibition of individual brilliance. While the latter departed for a 48-ball 56, the skipper remained not-out for a 40-ball 68. When the first ODI begins, all eyes will be on the experienced pair.
#2 Ashish Nehra’s forgettable day out
Considering his ripe old age of 37 and recent injury problems, Ashish Nehra’s inclusion in the T20I squad raised a few eyebrows. With the next World T20 at least more than a year away, the introduction of a younger pacer could have allowed skipper Virat Kohli to start building a team for the future.
Dhoni looked to carefully monitor the veteran seamer’s work load by spacing out his overs. After giving away a boundary off the very first delivery of his spell, Nehra came under further hammer from a belligerent Jason Roy.
When he was brought back for the death overs, the left-arm bowler’s lengths were all over the place and thus had to be taken off. He ended the game with figures of 6-0-50-0.
#1 Kuldeep Yadav‘s remarkable spell not enough to overturn a defeat
Perhaps, the most conspicuous name missing from India’s squad for the white-ball series was Kuldeep Yadav. A rare chinaman exponent, the 22-year old can be utilised as a genuine wicket-taking option in the middle-overs.
By producing a fine spell, he showed what India could miss out on when the main matches begin. At 95/0, the England XI appeared to be cruising towards the target and the home team badly needed a breakthrough. Kuldeep gave them not one but two within the space of three overs.
Even though he kept chipping away to eke out a five-for, England’s batting lineup reached the target just in time. But, if not for the wily left-arm spinner, the match could have been over much earlier.
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