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Leicester: Opener Shikhar Dhawan suffered an arm injury even as the Indian batsmen ruled the roost on day one of the first warm-up tie against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Thursday.
Electing to bat, the Indians rode on half-centuries from Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir and Cheteshwar Pujara to be placed 333 for 4 at stumps.
Ajinkya Rahane (47*) and Rohit Sharma (43*) were unbeaten at the crease, going strong in a 74-run stand in 20 overs. The Indians, however, faced a weakened Leicestershire, without at least half a dozen of their first choice players. The county side is already languishing at the bottom of the second division County Championships and are without a win in nine matches this season.
Dhawan was the first of the Indian batsmen to get to a fifty as India went into lunch at 106 for 1 with the left-hander unbeaten on 55. After adding just five more runs to that score, Dhawan was struck on the arm by a short ball from left-arm medium pacer Atif Sheikh and had to retire hurt on 60 from 100 balls. Dhawan has had a decent run in his brief Test career so far with 534 runs in seven Tests, including two centuries, one of which was the record fastest century on Test debut.
Murali Vijay (20) and Virat Kohli (29) were the only batsmen to be dismissed by the bowlers as they failed to make merry against a pedestrian bowling attack. Zimbabwean seamer Anthony Ireland got rid of Vijay, who was caught at gully by Angus Robson. Kohli, on the other hand, was bowled by right-arm seamer Shiv Thakor just when he looked set for a big knock.
Gambhir, who was injured midway through India's 4-0 Test series loss in England three years ago, broke into the current Test side after a successful IPL campaign and he made his chance count on Thursday. Gambhir, who was given a chance to bat at number three, scored 54 from 101 balls and proved ideal partner for first Dhawan, and then Pujara, who helped himself to 58 from 98 balls. Both batsmen, after reaching fifties, declared themselves retired out.
After reaching 214 for 2 at tea, the visitors added 119 runs in the final session in 31 overs. Out of the 18 Indian squad members available to play, 11 have been earmarked for batting and 11 for fielding. Hence, the match does not count as a first-class game.
Brief scores:
Indians - 333 for 4 (Dhawan 60 retired hurt, Pujara 57, Gambhir 54)
