Internet Desk: World No. 1 Indian Test team have started their Sri Lanka tour on a high as they played out a draw against Sri Lanka’s Board President’s XI (SLBP) in the two day warm-up match at Colombo today. Skipper Virat Kohli and the other batsmen spent a lot of time in the middle as the visitors scored 312/9 on the second and final day of their practice game.
India resumed their second day’s play on 135/3. Kohli scored a fifty, while rest of the batsmen Ajinkya Rahane (40), Rohit Sharma (38), Shikhar Dhawan (41) too looked good at the crease before they retired to give other batsmen a chance to bat.
Overnight batsmen Kohli and Rahane batted for just eight overs today in the morning session before retiring to provide others at some practice.
Kohli hit eight boundaries in his 78-ball knock, while Rahane scored three fours during his innings.
Rohit and Shikhar then forged an 80-run partnership in 16 overs before retiring.
It was a good outing for Rohit, who was rested after the Champions trophy, as the Mumbaikar scored at a brisk pace and his 49-ball innings had a four and two sixes.
Shikhar, who is also competing for the opening slot, was fluent as he blasted seven boundaries in his 48-ball innings.
Wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha (36 not out) and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (13) then took the crease after the 54th over but three overs later, the latter was dismissed by T Kaushal with Kithuruwan Vithanage taking the catch.
Pandya was the fourth Indian batsman to be dismissed.
Ravindra Jadeja, who scored a 32-ball 18 studded with two fours, too was stumped by Weerakkody off Kaushal’s bowling to become only the second batsman to be dismissed today.
Wriddhiman’s 40-ball innings was laced with two hits to the fence.