The India A squad kicked off their tour of England with a comprehensive 125-run win over an England Cricket Board XI at Headingley on Sunday. The side are due to play an ODI tri-series which also involves the England Lions and the West Indies A team.
The Rahul Dravid-coached side’s matches are precede the senior team’s extensive tour of England which gets underway in July. The warm-up match on Sunday along with the tri-series will provide an opportunity to India’s fringe players as well as future stars to work their way into the senior squad led by Virat Kohli when they take on hosts England in three ODIs and as many T20Is later in the summer.
Here, we take a look at players who made an impact during Sunday’s win over the ECB XI.
PRITHVI SHAW
India’s U19 World Cup winning captain had a fine maiden IPL where he came up with some scintillating innings for Delhi Daredevils.
He carried that form over to Headingley on Sunday as he gave India A’s innings a flying start. The right-handed batsman struck seven boundaries and three sixes in his innings of 71 which came off just 61 balls.
The youngster took charge during the powerplay overs and along with Mayank Agarwal, put on 43 runs for the opening wicket. Of those 43 runs, Agarwal scored just four.
Shaw played an attacking innings at the top.
SHREYAS IYER
The Delhi Daredevils skipper had a fine individual IPL despite his team finishing dead last in the league table. Taking over captaincy duties for the India A side too, Iyer looked in good touch as he too smashed a fine half-century.
He put on 84 runs for the second wicket along with Shaw where he played second fiddle. Post Shaw’s departure, India A lost a couple of more quick wickets but Iyer ensured they posted a commanding total by anchoring the innings.
He departed for a 45-ball 54 in the end with the help of five boundaries and a six.
Iyer played a captain’s knock for India A.
ISHAN KISHAN
Another youngster who impressed in this year’s IPL, Ishan Kishan provided India A’s innings the flourish they needed in the death overs with some power hitting. The Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batsman struck two massive sixes along with four boundaries before registering a quick-fire half century.
His lusty blows in the death overs helped India A power on to 328-8 in their 50 overs.
Ishan Kishan looked in supreme touch during his 50-run knock.
KRUNAL PANDYA
Krunal Pandya has been a consistent performed for Mumbai Indians in the IPL over the years and the all-rounder made full use of the India ‘A’ outing.
Pandya did what he does best in the IPL – providing some big hits with the bat towards the end of the innings before turning the screws on the opposition with some tight overs of left-arm spin. He smashed a 28-ball 34 at the death with the help of two sixes before bowling six overs in which he conceded just 21 runs while picking up one wicket.
Krunal Pandya put in an all-round performance.
DEEPAK CHAHAR
The Rajasthan-born pacer was a revelation for IPL champions Chennai Super Kings with the new ball. A pacer who has the ability to swing the ball both ways, Chahar enjoyed himself in English conditions as he picked up three wickets.
The pacer removed ECB XI skipper Alex Davies early in their chase to put India A on top before claiming the wickets of Matt Critchley and Tom Barber towards the death. He finished with figures of 3-48 in 7.5 overs to complete a fine outing.
Tom Barber is clean-bowled by Chahar.
