India v CA XI : KL Rahul fails again at the top, half-centuries for Shaw, Kohli and Pujara

Cricket Australia XI won the toss and opted to bowl first on a cloudy morning at Sydney Cricket Ground. On Day two, the rain stayed away in the morning, and the match started as per the schedule at 10:00 AM local time. It was half-an-hour early start as there was no game on the day one due to heavy rain in Sydney.

KL Rahul and Prithvi Shaw opened the Indian innings in the practice match. However, Rahul's struggle at the top continued as he could score only three runs in eighteen deliveries. He departed with India having 16 runs on board caught by Max Bryant in Jackson Coleman's delivery. Rahul had a struggling series in England except for the first innings in the final test where he scored a century. He had a poor outing in the series against the West Indies at home.

On the other hand, Prithvi Shaw continued his excellent form from West Indies series and looked to be in right touch against Cricket Australia XI opening bowlers. He scored an impressive half-century before Fallins bowled him for 66 off 69 balls. He hit eleven boundaries in his innings. Pujara provided him excellent support at the other end and added 80 runs for the second wicket.

Pujara scored 54 runs off 89 balls with six boundaries and formed another fifty runs partnership with Virat Kohli. Luke Robins ended the 73 runs partnership for the third wicket as he bowled Pujara soon after the lunch break. Kohli continued to play his shorts at the other end. He added 35 runs for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane.

Kohli was looking good for another big hundred. However, Aaron Hardie had the last laugh. Hardie caught him in his bowling in 48th over. Kohli scored 64 off 87 balls with seven boundaries and one six.

With a clear sky and plenty of batting to come, India may be targetting a big first innings score at SCG. They are already scoring at a rate above four runs per over and will look forward to continuing the momentum for the rest of the day.