Essex vs India 2018, Warm-Up Game: India Finish Day One Strongly After Early Wobble

An impressive show from middle-order batsmen helped India recover from a disastrous start and put up a respectable total at the end of day one of the three-day warm up game against Essex. At stumps, India were 322 for 6.

It looked like India were set for an embarrassing day at Chelmsford after Virat Kohli decided to bat first. Shikhar Dhawan’s struggles in overseas Test extended by one more innings as he departed in the very first over even before opening his account. The southpaw had no answer to a Matt Coles delivery that landed just on the off-stump. And he ended up edging it behind to the keeper.

Even before India could recover from that setback, Cheteshwar Pujara too joined Dhawan in the hut. Despite recently playing for Yorkshire, the Saurashtra man could score only 1 before becoming Coles’ second victim of the day. Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane steadied the ship but not for too long. Just when it looked the partnership would take India to a good position, Rahane edged a Matthew Quinn delivery behind the stumps to depart for 17.

Vijay was then joined by Kohli as the two started the rescue work. The duo ensured India head into lunch without suffering any further setback. After the first session, the visitors were 100 for 3 after losing three wickets for just 44. Kohli looked impressive right from the start, hitting 32 off just 34 before lunch. Vijay and Kohli started cautiously after the break. But Essex once again tightened their grip on the game by dismissing both of them in quick succession. Vijay was the first to depart after being castled by Paul Walter for 53. It ended the 90-run stand between the duo.

This guy’s not bad at cricket…
50 up for @imVkohli off 67 balls! ?#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/CS6ObCNweT

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

13 runs later, Walter struck again to take the prized scalp of Kohli. The India skipper scored 68 off 93 balls.  However, KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik did not let Essex capitalise on the the two dismissals. The duo added 114 runs for the sixth wicket to bat India to a position of strength.  Aron Nijjar broke the stand by dismissing Rahul for 58.

6⃣ Aron Nijjar has an immediate impact after being re-introduced, claiming the wicket of Rahul for 58#ESSvIND

Watch live here: https://t.co/0WMzSvtsrw pic.twitter.com/k6TawRRxPg

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

Karthik along with Hardik Pandya then took India to stumps without any more hiccups. The two stitched together an unbeaten stand of 61 runs. Karthik was unbeaten on 82 while Pandya was playing on 33.

Brief scores:

India 322 for 6 (Karthik 82*, Kohli 68; Coles 2-31) against Essex.