Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first in their practice match against Bangladesh in New York, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.
Sanju Samson got the nod to open alongside Rohit, ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal, but missed the opportunity to impress, departing for just 1 (6) in the second over. This early setback put pressure on Rishabh Pant, who came in at No. 3. Pant responded with a dazzling half-century, bolstering his claim for the wicket-keeper slot in the playing XI for the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma showed promising form but couldn’t capitalize on his start, falling for 23 (19) in the seventh over. Meanwhile, Pant kept the scoreboard ticking alongside Suryakumar Yadav, before retiring out after reaching his half-century, signaling his readiness for the tournament.
Shivam Dube found the going tough in the sluggish conditions, managing a labored 14 (16) before being dismissed in the 15th over. It was then up to Hardik Pandya (40) and Suryakumar Yadav (31) to inject some much-needed momentum into the innings. Their vital cameos in the death overs pushed India’s total to a competitive 182 in 20 overs.*
Ravindra Jadeja, like his CSK teammate Dube, struggled to get going, scoring only four runs from six deliveries while remaining unbeaten.
As the practice matches progress, the standout performances of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya provide a glimmer of hope and excitement for India’s campaign in the upcoming World Cup. Will these stars continue to shine and lead India to glory? Fans eagerly await the answers as the tournament unfolds.
