Highlights, India vs Essex, warm-up match, Day 1 in Chelmsford: Karthik, Pandya steer visitors to 322/6 on opening day

Stumps, Day 1

End of play then… India 322/6. DK 82* while Hardik Pandya has motored to 33* off 58 balls as well. Should be enough for overnight declaration and give the new ball to the bowlers. Unless they want the bowlers to get some batting as well.

Hardik Pandya’s cameo burst has put India across 300 and it is looking a healthier total than it looked like earlier in the day. Overall, India will be happy with this batting effort and will look to declare overnight. Another 12 minutes of play remaining. Can DK get his hundred?

IND 311/6 after 80 overs

DK along with Pandya keep the scoreboard ticking as they complete 50-run stand for the 7th wicket. New ball taken!

India go past 300 in the 78th over.

DK along with Pandya keep the scoreboard ticking as India go past the 300-mark. Still a little over 2 overs left before the new ball is made available.

IND 294/6 after 74 overs

DK copies Rahul in text book manner… swivels and pulls for four… crack of the bat around Essex county club…

India 278/6 after 71 overs

Hardik Pandya has stroked few of boundaries early in his innings. Dinesh Karthik is looking steady works the ball around for singles.He moves into 60s.

Rahul perishes in pursuit of a big shot
​
Rahul miscues one off spin… was looking to clear the boundary… end of a good innings which should get him into the first Test.

Karthik’s form in England a big plus for the Indian side.

IND 258/5

Fifty for DK… coming at 100-plus strike rate… looked in no trouble at all… motored along nicely. Seems a regular fit in the keeper-batsman slot.

IND 261/6 in 67.3

OUT! KL Rahul falls for 58. India lose their 6th wicket. Spinner Aron Nijjar takes the wicket. Hardik Pandya comes out to the center.

India 256/5

FIFTY! Dinesh Karthik completes his half-century, moves to 53 off 51 balls. Played some really good strokes in his innings. Rahul and Karthik forged a 100-run stand as well.

Rahul carries his good form from Indian summer to England

Fifty up for Rahul off 77 balls… hasn’t put a foot wrong really… spanking form mirroring that from the IPL… if there is one man you ought to pick based on form and merit on this tour, it is him.

IND 238/5 after 63 overs

KL Rahul completes a well-composed half-century. Karthik into 40s as well.

IND 232/5 after 61 overs

With the help seven boundaries Karthik has raced to 38 off 31 deliveries. KL Rahul is batting on 49.

Essex right arm quick continues to hunt for his first wicket

Dixon works up pace again… and he is still moving the ball… Rahul goes in to play, thinking this was moving away but it darted in and he pulled out at the last minute… perhaps kissed his arm… almost a full blooded hit that judging from batsman’s reaction at least…

Dinesh dealing in boundaries

Spanking shot from DK… cover drive for four… he is into his 30s now… looking good. Hasn’t played a false stroke yet.

IND 217/5

Four boundaries already in the third session of play.

Rahul & Karthik on 41 and 31 respectively.

Loud loud shot… Rahul survives… might just have been too much height… Matt Dixon works up good pace.

Tea session begins

Absolutely spanking drive for four from DK… the third session has begun.

KL Rahul looking in fine nick

Tea time at Chelmsford then… India have reached 201/5. Rahul looking in superb touch, just like early in the summer, and looks to have shrugged off his duck at Lord’s. You can also say he has already played himself in the playing eleven… just who will sit out is the question. Maybe we will have the answer in second innings.

Tea, Day 1

India end the afternoon session on 201/5 after 56 overs. The visitors added 101 in the second session of play having lost the wickets Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli. KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik stitched a solid partnership of 54.

India 197/5 after 55 overs

KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik combine forces to forge a solid 50-run stand. Rahul has so far looked in good touch and taken over from captain Virat Kohli.

IND 190/5

Superb pull from Rahul… swivels on his backfoot… short ball and pulled to the boundary… Rahul has taken on the baton from Virat in this session….

India 185/5. First over of spin in the 52nd over of the innings. Left-arm spinner Aron Nijjar into the attack.

KL Rahul is on 28 currently. Do you agree with this opinion?

Video: Kohli’s dismissal

5⃣ Kohli goes for 68 after being caught by Chopra off the bowling of Walter#ESSvIND

Watch live here: https://t.co/0WMzSvtsrw pic.twitter.com/dHWjS3WwTc

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

Two wonderful strokes from Rahul in that last over… leaning into the drives, full and on the front foot, close to his body and in his zone… looks the second best batsman for India today… almost matching Virat!

Rahul motoring along nicely, keeping the scoreboard ticking

India 163/5

Shots! Drives on the either side for both Rahul and DK… the latter almost digging out the ball but what timing…

First loose shot from Virat all day… plays away from the body and Walter has his wicket… Chopra, who dropped a couple at first slip takes this one… Virat out for 68. Dinesh Karthik in.

OUT! Virat Kohli gone! caught by Varun Chopra at first slip off Paul Walter’s bowling. He is dismissed for 68, India 147/5

At the end of 44th over, India have 146/4 on the board.

Virat Kohli continues to find the fence, 12 times in his innings of 68. KL Rahul getting his eye in.

Watch the stroke that got Indian captain Virat Kohli to his half-century

This guy’s not bad at cricket...
50 up for @imVkohli off 67 balls! 👌#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/CS6ObCNweT

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

OUT! M Vijay gone for 53, IND 134/4

Nips back from length… the left-arm bowler Walter hasn’t bowled well… but he gets this one to come in after pitching… from behind the batsman seemed like it kissed Vijay’s thigh pad before knocking back his off stump… but there was a large gap between bat and pad. And he’s bowled for 53. KL Rahul is in now…

Goes on to show Virat is batting in different league here

Seven fours in half-century for Vijay and a few of them were streaky… cannot say that about even a single one of Virat’s nine boundaries… what a rampaging half-century so far…

What a start for Kohli in red ball leg of this England tour India 131/3
​
Virat has back to back fours and half-century off 67 balls…. stupendous stroke making… if Anderson is preparing with a county game this weekend, Kohli is getting up the gears as well.

104-ball half-century for Vijay… streaky through the slip cordon but effective in the end… he is in his element now… leaving well and picking the boundary balls easily.

FIFTY! Murali Vijay raises his half-century with a boundary.

Kohli gets four off the last ball to have the final say!
​
Virat responds… on the front foot and cover driven for four… what an over… what entertainment for crowd at Chelmsford… this summer is all about Virat, isn’t it?

Quinn’s movement causes some trouble

Quinn is getting that movement through that slope to the right… almost a leading edge from Virat… And now again… completely squared him up…  another magnificent over from Quinn.

Captain Kohli on fire!

Shot! Virat continues his spanking hot form… on drives for four and not a fielder moved… brilliant shot to follow the one in the first session through cover…

We are back again… and loud appeal off the second ball against Vijay for lbw… he survives on 45*.

The players back on the field for the second session of play. India 100/3

India hitting the nets during lunch break… DK, Ashwin and Rahul batting

Interesting insights on the ground and how Kohli has adapted to counter the outward movement

One of the BBC commentators told me about the slope on the pitch towards right of the ground… it is because of the long square which has nearly 20 pitches… so because of that slope there is some outswing and it takes the ball shaping away from the right hander… that’s how Rahane got out. But Virat’s trigger movement has covered that well enough so far.

Kohli’s new methods to bat in English conditions.

The best part about Virat’s knock so far is the trigger movement… he has looked to come on to the front foot as early as possible and easily shifted his weight. The top order, especially Pujara and Rahane, were trying to wait out a little and play on the backfoot. Cost Pujara dearly even as Dhawan fell cheaply too. There are question marks over Pujara’s inclusion in the first Test and it remains to be seen what Rahul can do here.

Kohli at his authoritative best!
​
Virat Kohli has simply taken the game from its neck… he has looked batting on a truly different wicket. The top order felt as if they were batting on a rampant green top with the new ball doing a lot. It can be said that the wicket eased out a bit and ball lost its shine after an hour… but, scoring at nearly 100 is different. He played a gorgeous drive through cover which was shot of the day.

Vijay, the grafter, has waded through the tough phase

Vijay has been solid at one end… he has batted time and in the first hour was very patchy. Some really dangerous streaky shots and a couple nicks that were put down… truth told he is lucky to be there… but he has shrugged that off and in the second hour enjoyed batting here. A couple of the drives towards midwicket were particularly brilliant. He is hanging in there which is all that matters really.

Lunch at Chelmsford and India have motored to 100/3. Vijay is 45 not out after surviving two dropped catches while Virat Kohli has set the hectic pace. 32 off 34 balls…

Lunch, Day 1: Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli steer India to 100 for the loss of three wickets after 28 overs.

The duo added 56 off 58 balls, has been a good counter attack. Will be an interesting second session and will be intruging to see once the spinners come to bowl in the afternoon session. Join us after the break.

India 95/3

Murali Vijay is feeding off Kohli’s confidence. Suddenly it seems batting has become lot easier. 50-run stand between these two!

Confident start to Virat’s innings.

Virat Kohli with the help of couple of wonderful boundaries have raced to 24 off 24 deliveries.

India are 78  for 3 in the 25th over.

India 68/3 in 24th over

Kohli has started off really well here. 18 off 18 balls with some fluent strokes. Looking a cut above the rest.

Tough first half of the first session for India. Onus on Vijay, Kohli to ensure India doesn’t lose more wickets

Finally an edge results in a wicket! Foster takes matters into his own hands diving in front of slip. Essex bowling well here, India struggling.

— Niall (@Crusty_Crouton) July 25, 2018

OUT! Ajinkya Rahane gone! Matthew Quinn breaks the 39-run stand. Foster behind the stumps is having a good day as he claims his third catch. Captain Virat Kohli walks out to the middle.

 India 44/3

The boundary will help Vijay’s confidence as moves into the 20s. India 44/2 

Mathew Quinn the bowler who totally squared Vijay up in the last over…. but now at the other end, Vijay responds with a brilliant cut through gully region…

Vijay’s survivial continues

Vijay getting absolutely squared up… had another nick which fell just short of first slip… testing session for him so far but he is still there which is what counts…

India 39/2 after 16 overs

Superb free flowing shot from Rahane… cover drive for four… the gully has come out and bowler bowling full… so inviting him to drive which Rahane just thanked him for…

Pujara’s dismissal. Matt Coles’ second wicket.

📽️ Second wicket of the day for Coles, as Pujara is caught behind by Foster#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/wkfz3FfxmP

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

Well, when water becomes too mainstream.

It is time for a lemon break after an hour's play. #TeamIndia 29/2
Rahane 15*
Vijay 11#ESSvIND

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 25, 2018

Here is how Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed

📽️ Matt Coles strikes after just 3 balls as Dhawan is caught behind by Foster#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/SC9RaitUIi

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

Here is how the scorecard looks for India

One hour played: India 29 for 2 after 14 overs. Rahane 15, Vijay 11. Matt Coles 7-1-7-2. #ESSvIND

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018

Vijay-Rahane fight after couple of early wickets

This has been a poor start for India, and not made worse only by the fact that Essex have dropped two catches. The runs are only coming in spurts. Not quite the stroke making a sizeable crowd would have expected… But just as I type that… Rahane flicks one off his legs for four. It has been a fight for him so far but he is staying there.

Murali Vijay gets a life

Vijay dropped on 6 at second slip… India 19/2.

And another one…treading on thin ice here
​
Rahane dropped at first slip on 4 not out… India 12/1.

Close shave for Ajinkya Rahane

Wrapped on the pads… and Rahane survives… hit outside off apparently.

Important phase for Indian Test opener to spend some time in the middle

Vijay leaving the ball well so far after a few initial hiccups. For him, it is all about playing as many balls as possible. He scored 8 and 0 against England Lions in Worcester.

Essex pressing the visitors straightaway!

Rahane peppered with some short stuff**.**.. after facing a few outside off… went after one short delivery down leg, but missed… Interesting passage of play so far.

India 5/2 (2.4 overs)

OUT! Pujara caught behind for 1. Moving ball doing the trick, takes the edge and into James Foster’s hand… Not much appeal but he is walking. 

Ajinkya Rahane at number four.

India 1/1 (0.3 overs)

OUT! Horror start for Shikhar Dhawan in whites. He is dismissed for a golden duck as he nicks one behind off Matt Coles’ bowling.

Dhawan gone… Caught behind.

Vijay and Dhawan out in the middle for first strike…. Three slips and a gully… Green top. Let’s get the red ball summer started!

Some folk dance program happening near the boundary… or the pavilion rather… Typical when India travel in this part of the world… I remember something similar at Leicester for the tour game in 2014… they served us sumptuous Indian lunch that day as well… full three courses… wonder if I am getting that awesome food today too!

Hellos from Chelmsford… Never mind that ghastly outfield… There has been an actual toss. India have won and elected to bat first. 

Once again, the game does not have first class status and all 18 players will be in action at some point. 

India have won the toss and opted to bat.

Talking about the game itself… Well, this is not a first class match, which explains why India could ‘opt’ to reduce the duration.

As such, all 18 members of the Test squad can – and will – participate in this match. You can expect all batsmen to have a go one by one and all bowlers to have decent spells under their belts.

Cheteshwar Pujara will be desperate for some runs while Virat Kohli will look to get some momentum going into the Test series. He knows James Anderson is building up to the first Test with a county game this weekend.

The other big battle is among the three spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav… Basically, this is a straight shoot out between them for possible two spots at Edgbaston.

Last but not the least, India need Mohammed Shami to show that he is mentally and match fit. He is their best Test bowler across conditions and they need him now more than ever with Bhuvneshwar Kumar missing out and Jasprit Bumrah unavailable for the first Test.

India are likely to be asked what they want to do first, bat or bowl, in accordance with norms of such unclassified tour games.

A green-top wicket and rugged brown outfield… This is what greeted India at Essex when the squad assembled to begin preparations for the five Test series starting August 1.

Of course the big news is that India decided to shorten their practice game from four days to three. They don’t want to over exert in this heat wave is the official statement from Essex county club. But add the pitch, which is totally different from what’s expected in the Test series, to the outfield, which is quite capable of injuring a few players, and the summation is no one really knows what is happening.

Here is the picture from Tuesday of the rugged outfield. If the wickets’ square can be this lush green, you have to wonder why the outfield is so brown.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of India’s three-day practice match against Essex.