The India batsmen and bowlers got a decent run-out in the middle in the first practice match against the WICB President's XI, and Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble will home for a bit more action when the two teams meet again in a three-day warmup match at Warner Park in St. Kitts on Thursday.
India chose to bat first after winning the toss in the opening warmup, with the top three – Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara -- making some solid runs, while Rohit Sharma chipped in with a handy half-century as well.
The skipper Virat Kohli did not get as much time as he would have liked in the middle, falling for a 40-ball 14, and the right-hander will target a sustained period at the crease in this second tour match.
On a slow pitch that had very little for either sets of bowlers Amit Mishra forced his way to a four-for, with Kumble and Kohli deciding to rest R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Both the frontline spinners, though, could get a run-out for this tour match, with Murali Vijay, who also sat out the first game, expected to feature as well.
The key aspect for India to take from this tour match is deciding on the bowling lineup. While Ashwin and Jadeja are likely to feature, Kohli needs to decide on the fast bowlers that will back them up. Ishant Sharma is the fast bowling spearhead and should play, leaving Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, who did not play the first game but should get some bowling in this one, and Umesh Yadav to battle for one or two spots, depending on the playing XI makeup for the first Test against the West Indies, which stars next week.
All four bowlers did reasonably well in the tour match, keeping things relatively tight, even if they will feel they could have done better. Being able to bowl long spells on wickets that are expected to be on the slower side is a big component to have and what Kohli and the coaching staff need to decide is which of the bowlers can give them that option the best.
Apart from that, it will be about getting as much time in the middle as possible for the India players, with this game giving them more of an opportunity to do that, considering the first warmup lasted only two days.
The players from the WICB President's XI will want to try and dent India's confidence as much as possible in order to leave an open wound or two for the players in the West Indies Test squad to take advantage of.
Squads: India: India: Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav.
WICB President's XI: Leon Johnson (C), Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jason Dawes, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Vishaul Singh.
Where to follow live
India vs WICB President's XI three-day match is scheduled for a 7.30 p.m. IST (10 a.m. local time, 3 p.m. BST) start from Thursday. Get the live score of the match as it happens on BCCI's Twitter account.
