Indian bowlers and batters had a great day in the 50-over one-day pink ball match against the Prime Minster’s XI at Canberra as the Indians won the invitational match. Shubman Gill and Harshit Rana shined in the crucial preparation match for the upcoming pink-ball Test. 

After the Indians captain Rohit Sharma chose to field first, the visitors bowled out PM-XI for 240 runs in 43.2 overs. When PM XI were struggling at 21/1 in the sixth over, rain interrupted that innings and the match was shortened to a 46-over battle. Indians chased the target in 42.5 overs, but they batted till the 46th over when the day ended with Indians 257/5. 

Update: Captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and opted to bowl first against PM's XI in Canberra. #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/49I1VfDgmk

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024

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A crucial pink ball practice for India

It was a crucial pink-ball practice match for India, who will play the day-night pink-ball Test match against the hosts Australia during the second Test of the five-match Test series, starting on December 6. Although the invitational match was originally scheduled for a two-day day-night pink-ball Test match, Saturday rain washout forced the match to convert into a one-day pink-ball match, where there were no field restrictions as well as no restrictions on the maximum number of overs for a bowler. 

At the end of 10 overs, PM XI are 29/2.

Siraj and Akash Deep with a wicket apiece. pic.twitter.com/Xw7iwT0Kp5

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024

Harshit Rana took four wickets in six balls

Harshit Rana impressed with the ball in hand as the right-arm pacer picked up four wickets in six balls. His bowling resulted in PM-XI’s deep trouble, who suddenly went down from 131/2 to 138/7. Before that, opener Sam Konstas and Jack Clayton had a 109-run partnership for the third wicket.

Just after the drinks break, Harshit Rana picks up two quick wickets.

PM XI are 131/4 pic.twitter.com/jnuHAnDEFU

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024

While Clayton was out for 40 runs off 52 balls (six fours), he and Konstas were the only double-digit scorers among the top eight batters. After the sudden collapse, Konstas found the partner Hanno Jacobs, who settled a 67-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Sam Konstas scored a century

After scoring 107 off 97 balls, thanks to 14 fours and one six, opener Konstas lost his wicket against Akash Deep as his top-edge pull found Navdeep Saini, who ran in from the deep forward square leg. In the meantime, Jacobs scored 61 off 60 balls (four fours and two sixes) before he was the last batter to be dismissed in the innings. 

PM XI are all out for 240 runs.

Harshit Rana picks up four wickets, Akash Deep with two and Siraj, Prasidh, Washington and Jadeja pick a wicket each. pic.twitter.com/a2YxKXhn19

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024

While Harshit Rana took four wickets (4/44), Akash Deep (2/58) had two wickets. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj (1/18), Prasidh Krishna (1/37), Washington Sundar (1/38), and Ravindra Jadeja (1/32) got one wicket each, and Nitish Kumar Reddy was the only wicketless bowler among the Indians (0/10).

Jaiswal and Rahul had a solid opening partnership

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened in the second innings. They had a 75-run opening partnership before Jaiswal was caught out at cover for 45 runs off 59 balls with nine fours. Charlie Anderson, who was hit for three fours by Jaiswal in the 13th over, took the Indian left-handed batter's wicket.  

#TeamIndia openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have stitched a fine 50-run partnership between them in 13.1 overs. pic.twitter.com/TDIIVnu8Js

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024

Shubman Gill scored 50 on return, captain Rohit Sharma fell cheaply

While Shubman Gill returned to the game after recovering from the injury, captain Rohit Sharma was the next batter after Rahul’s retired not out of 27 runs in 44 balls (four fours). Although Rohit was dismissed for three runs, Gill and the next batters impressed in the chase. 

Shubman Gill gets to a fine half-century against the PM XI here at the Manuka Oval. pic.twitter.com/meSCctaiM6

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024

Strong middle-order replies

Before retiring not out, Gill scored 50 off 62 balls with seven fours. Nitish Kumar Reddy (42 off 32 balls; five fours and one six) and Washington Sundar (42 not out off 36 balls; five fours) both scored 42 runs with 100+ strike rates. Also, Ravindra Jadeja scored 27 off 31 balls, while Sarfaraz Khan was dismissed for one run and Devdutt Padikkal was not out for one run.