India secured a convincing victory over the Prime Minister’s XI in a rain-affected two-day warm-up game at Manuka Oval, Canberra, ahead of the Pink-Ball Test in Adelaide, starting December 6. Despite the weather interruptions, the match offered valuable practice for the Indian team, who showcased their depth and preparation.
Skipper Rohit Sharma praised the team’s performance and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “It was fantastic. We got what we wanted as a group. Though it was a bit unlucky we couldn’t get the full game, we made the most of the time we had. The support from the crowd was incredible. We love playing in Australia, and their support always motivates us,” Rohit Sharma said.
Winning the toss, India elected to bowl first, and the bowlers delivered early breakthroughs. Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep reduced the hosts to 22/2, setting the tone for the innings. However, Sam Konstas stood tall, anchoring the innings with a brilliant century. His knock of 107, supported by Hanno Jacobs’ 61, helped the Prime Minister’s XI post a respectable 240.
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The pivotal moment occurred during Harshit Rana’s remarkable performance, in which the young pacer took four wickets in just six balls, breaking apart the middle order and shifting the momentum firmly in India’s favor.
In response, India’s openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal built a strong foundation with a 75-run partnership. Jaiswal contributed 45 before falling to Charlie Anderson, while Rahul played cautiously. Rohit Sharma, batting lower down the order, managed only three runs. However, Shubman Gill, returning from injury, impressed with a fluent fifty before retiring out. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar chipped in with 42 runs each, steering India to a comfortable six-wicket victory.
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Sam Konstas was named Player of the Match for his standout century. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “It was a great opportunity to play against a strong team like India. Thanks to the crowd for their support.”Prime Minister’s XI skipper Jack Edwards lauded Scott Boland’s bowling and spoke of the honor of facing a star-studded Indian side. “Scotty bowled exceptionally well. Playing against a team with such big names has been an amazing experience for the group,” Edwards said.
The warm-up fixture provided a mix of challenges and positives, setting the stage for an exciting Pink-Ball Test in Adelaide.
