The Indian cricket team had a tough time on the first day of action in Sri Lanka. Team India played their first practice match before the actual match starting on August 15th. However, even India’s main bowlers were unable to do much against a team made up of Sri Lankan domestic cricketers. The Indian team failed to bowl out the Sri Lankan XI throughout the 90 overs. But the most surprising thing was that while all the bowlers were given a chance, fast bowler Aaqib Nabi was not allowed to bowl a single ball.
7 out of 8 bowlers were used
Since arriving in Sri Lanka, Team India has been practicing at the NCC Ground in Colombo. The Indian team’s practice match began on Friday, August 7th, where they faced the Sri Lanka Cricket XI. The pitch at this ground already appeared lifeless, and this remained the case throughout the day’s play, where the Sri Lankan XI batsmen gave the team a strong start.
Captain Shubman Gill didn’t take the field on the first day of this match due to injury, but almost all the other players in Team India’s fielding squad took the field. Vice-captain KL Rahul used seven bowlers throughout the day, including those included in the squad specifically selected for this tour. However, only fast bowler Aaqib Nabi wasn’t called upon to bowl even once.
Nabi only kept giving water, did not get to bowl
Team India used three fast bowlers on the first day: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnur Brar, who bowled 33 overs and took just one wicket for 125 runs. This begs the question: why wasn’t Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aaqib Nabi given a single over? Why was Nabi, who joined the team after Jasprit Bumrah’s injury, limited to just water?
This question is also important because just last month, Aaqib Nabi played two matches on similar pitches in Sri Lanka. As such, he had fresh experience bowling in these conditions. The Indian team did not provide any reason for this, but it again raises questions about the Indian management, especially head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is primarily responsible for giving players opportunities.
Sri Lankan XI made Indian bowling miserable
These questions are being raised about Aaqib Nabi because the Indian bowling lacked any sharpness on the first day. Sri Lanka’s openers had put together a 110-run partnership, only to have this partnership broken by a run-out. Even after losing six wickets for 284, the seventh wicket partnership was a 63-run stand, which the Indian bowlers struggled to break.
Overall, Sri Lanka XI scored 363 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 90 overs on the first day. Nishan Fernando (66), Ravindu Rasantha (71), and captain Sonal Dinusha (52) scored half-centuries for the team. Meanwhile, the spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each for the Indian team. Gurnur Brar was the only successful fast bowler. It remains to be seen whether Nabi will get a chance to bowl on the second day or in the second innings.