India captain Rohit Sharma was out for a low score in the tourists' tour game against the Australia Prime Minister's XI in Canberra today (December 1).
Rohit was listed in the middle order in the teamsheet earlier today, when the match began, raising speculations if he'd bat down the order.
Having lost the entire first day's play due to rain, the match was reduced to a 50-overs-a-side contest on agreement between the two sides, before being further reduced to 46 overs due to a spell of rain during the first innings.
Teenager Sam Konstas made a statement hundred, off just 90 balls, even as the rest of the Australia PM's XI lineup failed around him, setting the Indians a target of 241.
Rahul retires hurt, Rohit bats 4
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal came out to open the innings, as they did at Perth in the first Test. The duo added 75 for the first wicket before Jaiswal was dismissed, bringing Shubman Gill in at three in the 17th over.
#TeamIndia openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have stitched a fine 50-run partnership between them in 13.1 overs. pic.twitter.com/TDIIVnu8Js
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2024
After the end of the 18th over, Rahul retired hurt, having been hit on his hip flexor by a short ball that skidded on and led him to miss a pull shot a few overs back. The opener looked in some pain when he was hit, but continued batting comfortably before retiring hurt. It seemed more like a precautionary measure and one aimed at giving game time to the other batters in the squad rather than a serious injury issue.
Rohit then walked out at No.4, playing his first game since the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. He didn't last long, however, edging an outswinging delivery to slip while attempting a cover drive, to be dismissed for three off 11 deliveries.
Nitish Kumar Reddy came out at No.5, with no signs of Virat Kohli at the time of writing. By the end of 24 overs, Indians were 113-2, requiring another 128 runs in 22 overs.
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