Calcutta/ Colombo: India’s top batsmen, including captain Virat Kohli, got plenty of time in the middle as the visitors scored 312-9 on the second and final day of their warm-up tie against Sri Lanka Board’s President XI which ended in a draw, in Colombo.
Resuming at 135-3, overnight batsman Kohli slammed a fifty, while the rest of the middle order — Ajinkya Rahane (40), Rohit Sharma (38), Shikhar Dhawan (41) too looked in good touch as they spent some time at the crease before retiring.
Overnight batsmen Kohli and Rahane batted for just eight overs on Saturday morning before retiring to give other a shot at some practice. Kohli had eight boundaries in his 78-ball innings, while Rahane scored three fours in his 58-ball stay.
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 on.
Wriddhiman’s 40-ball innings was laced with two hits to the fence. Kaushal ended the day with figures of 14-0-81-2. Vishwa Fernando (2/37) and Vikum Sanjaya (1/64) were the other wicket-takers for Sri Lanka Board President XI.
On Friday, Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja ran through the opposition before opener Lokesh Rahul made a solid return from a serious shoulder injury with a fifty in his first competitive fixture in four months.
Meanwhile, Rahul said he is “still very nervous” and his body is still “very unsure” four days before the start of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka. “I am still very nervous. The body is still very unsure and it keeps holding me back every time. That's the biggest challenge coming back from injury,” Rahul told bcci.tv.
He said it was tough staying away from cricket for long.
“I haven't been happier ever in my life. It has been quite a tough time to be away from cricket, to be away from the thing that you love the most. To just sit at home and watch the boys playing, it was really hard for me. It did make me a lot stronger, made me value my life, my opportunities and here I am, back in. It feels good to be back holding the bat and hitting the ball to the boundary.”
The Karnataka batsman spoke about the times at the National Cricket Academy and his rehabilitation process.
“Watching the Champions Trophy and the loss in the final was heart-breaking but the way the boys played the whole tournament was really exciting. I was missing being part of the team. So, rehab basically for me is possibly the most boring thing you can ever do, most honestly.
“Just wake up every morning and to do the same boring thing again and again is quite tiring and it starts to get to you. You start questioning yourself, asking yourself if you really want to do all these boring things.”
Brief scores: SLBP XI 187 in 55.5 ovs. India 312/9 decl. in 68 ovs (V. Kohli 54, S. Dhawan 41, A. Rahane 40). Match drawn.
