Playing First-Class cricket after nearly two years, India’s wicketkeeper against County XI KL Rahul slammed a 149-ball century at Durham on Tuesday. The 29-year-old hit 11 fours and one six in his innings. He was retired not out on 101. 

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Just when the Indian team in England looked worried after Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha had to self-isolate due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Rahul stepped up to showcase some masterclass. The Punjab Kings skipper walked in when the team was reeling at 67/3. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal were dismissed by England’s County XI bowlers. Rahul stitched a 40-run stand with Hanuma Vihari and then a century partnership with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. By the time Rahul was called back, India was 230/4.

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Ravindra Jadeja, too, scored a well-timed half-century. The Saurashtra all-rounder also made a come-back into the team following surgery on his thumb. Jadeja had sustained the injury during India’s tour of Australia. 

Virat Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin were rested for the practice game. Rohit Sharma led the team in their absence. 

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The BCCI gave an update Kohli and Rahane’s conditions after both were rested along with Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin.

“Kohli felt some stiffness in his back on late Monday evening and he has been advised rest from the three-day first-class warm-up game by the BCCI Medical Team. “Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has mild swelling around his left upper hamstring. This has been addressed by an injection. He is not available for the three-day first-class warm-up game,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a media statement.

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“However, the BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him (Rahane), and he is expected to fully recover well in time for the first Test against England starting from 4th August at Nottingham,” Shah further stated.

Openers Rohit Sharma (9) and Mayank Agarwal were dismissed off  Lyndon James early in the innings and Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari fell to spin. 

Indians Squad: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli(c), Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma.