New Delhi: First, Indian bowlers put up a good show, on the opening day of the first practice match against Cricket Australia XI and then on the second and final day most of their batsmen looked in good nick while batting, as they scored 363 for 8.
Indian bowlers, specially speedsters, passed their first test Down Under, when on Monday they bowled their heart out to all out Cricket Australia XI for modest total of 219.
If Varun Aaron was the pick among the Indian bowlers with his three wicket haul, then Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Karn Sharma shared two wickets each.
On the second day, Indian batsmen played throughout the day and more importantly batted with authority. And five Indian batsmen managed to cross the fifty-run mark, whereas Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma scored 44 and 23 respectively.
Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karn Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha were among the batsmen who had a good outing and went on to score fifty or more runs.
Though, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane didn't manage to score decently, overall it turned up as a good practice match for Team India.
Now India will play the last practice match on November 28 before the four match Test series starts Down Under.
However, Indian players should make themselves ready for a stern test ahead when they face an in-form Australian team in the first Test, scheduled to take place from December 4 at the Gabba.
