Now Reading: Warm-up match more productive than nets, says Kotak
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Warm-up match more productive than nets, says Kotak
India defeated Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in their only warm-up match before the Test series, chasing 207 in 45 overs. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the game was more…
The Story in Brief
India defeated Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in their only warm-up match before the Test series, chasing 207 in 45 overs. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the game was more valuable than four extra days of nets because bowlers operated with genuine intensity. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with an unbeaten 142 off 164 balls, while Mohammed Siraj smashed 32 not out off 15 balls with four sixes.
Spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule explained that Kuldeep Yadav did not bowl in the second innings as a precaution after he had already bowled 18 overs in the match plus a few before it. Shubman Gill, who was hit on the hand during a net session, returned to score 44 off 54 balls. The first Test in Galle begins on August 15.
The Indian Opinion
The chatter around India's warm-up win is already veering into overstatement, with some reading too much into Devdutt Padikkal's century or Mohammed Siraj's sixes. A practice game against a second-string Sri Lanka XI is not a Test. The more telling detail is that Kuldeep Yadav was rested after 18 overs, a precaution that raises questions about workload management. The real test will come when the pitch in Galle offers turn. Will the team trust its four spinners, or will caution rule the selection?
Sources (5): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, freepressjournal.in, sportstar.thehindu.com, rediff.com, sports.ndtv.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 5 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 5 sources.
