Injury scare for KL Rahul as Team India batters struggle in WACA match

Star India batter KL Rahul left the field after being hit on the elbow in an injury concern for India before the first Test, while Virat Kohli shrugged off speculation over his fitness in an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA as well. After three days in the WACA nets, Team India started their preparations a week before the first Test at Optus Stadium with a playing XI featuring their key players out in the middle against India A players.

Meanwhile, it is expected that he can open the batting if captain Rohit Sharma misses the first Test as Rahul opened alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul also looked in great touch and looked comfortable while handling short bowling well until he was hit on his right elbow by a rising delivery from pace bowler Prasidh Krishna. The blow left him in pain and he walked off the ground after seeking medical attention.

On the other hand, Jaiswal started the innings aggressively with a stunning hit through the covers, and that lasted two and a half hours before lunch. However, amid all reports that he has undergone scans in recent days, Virat Kohli looked in great touch and hit a couple of stunning shots through the covers as well. But on 15 he nicked seamer Mukesh Kumar to second slip before he spent some time in the nearby nets.

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India players struggle to get going

The WACA surface so far showed considerably less bounce than Sheffield Shield matches this season. But there has been some movement which India's batters looked wanting. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, who had struggled against the short ball during his net sessions earlier in the week, hit a boundary through the off-side early in his innings but he looked shaken after copping a blow to the groin as well. He was cleaned bowled by a quick delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who later dismissed Dhruv Jurel in the slips as well.

 

Meanwhile, No. 3 batter Shubman Gill started slowly and struggled to get going for his two-hour stay in the middle. He also started looking more comfortable as well. However, the spin from both ends occurred just before the interval with Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian bowling together as the batting side reduced to 106 for 5 after 28 overs at the break.