Srikar Bharat’s 70* takes Indians to 246/8 against Leicestershire on Day 1 of tour match

India’s reserve wicket-keeper batsman Srikar Bharat scored 70 not out to stand tall amid plenty of disappointing performances by the visiting batsmen on the opening day of the four-day tour match against Leicestershire on Thursday. 

The Indian side scored 246/8 with plenty of their batsmen getting off to starts but failing to convert them into big innings, but Virat Kohli sent across positive signs, spending close to 2 hours in the middle while scoring 33 from 69 balls with 4 boundaries and a six.

Srikar Bharat, who came out to bat at No 7, scored 70 not out from 111 balls with the help of 8 fours and a six, giving a fine example of his batting prowess in the only tour match that the visiting Indians will play ahead of their fifth Test of the Pataudi Trophy to be played next week against England. 

India captain Rohit Sharma scored 25 from 47 balls with 3 boundaries whereas his possible new opening batting partner Shubman Gill made 21 from 28 balls with the help of 4 hits to the fence. 

Hanuma Vihari batted at No 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara is playing this game for the opposition side. Hanuma Vihari could manage only 3 from 23 balls before he was removed by Roman Walker, who took a splendid five wicket haul on the first day. 

Among the other batsmen, Shreyas Iyer fell for an 11-ball duck against Prasidh Krishna, who is also playing for the home side given that this is the only tour match which India will be playing with the red ball and they needed to ensure that all of their visiting players get match time. Ravindra Jadeja scored a run-a-ball 13 whereas Shardul Thakur was dismissed for 6 and Umesh Yadav did well with the bat to score 23 from 32 balls with four boundaries.

At stumps, Srikar Bharat was unbeaten on 70 and was flourishing in the company of Mohammed Shami, who also gave a fine example of his batting skills, reaching 18 not out from 26 box with a couple of boundaries and a six.

Roman Walker was the pick among the bowlers for Leicestershire returning with 11-5-24-5 whereas Will Davis took 2/64 from his 14 hours and India’s Prasidh Krishna took 1/37 from his 10 overs. Apart from Prasidh Krishna and Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah are also playing for the home team in this four-day tour match.