Avesh Khan, Washington Sundar play for County Select XI against India in warm-up game; Kohli and Rahane rested

Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar were playing against their own teammates in the warm-up game between County Select XI and Indians. The ECB made a request to the Indian team management to let two players from the Indian contingent play for County Select XI after some of their players were deemed to be unavailable either due to injury or close contacts of a Covid-19 positive person. Accordingly, Sundar and Khan have been made available to play for their team.

Khan opened the bowling alongside Craig Miles, as seen on Durham Cricket’s YouTube channel on the live stream. The Indian pacer struggled to get his line and length right bowling with the new ball as he was hit for boundaries by Indian opener Mayank Agarwal. Before the lunch break, Khan bowled seven overs and gave 28 runs. His spell also included two maiden overs. On the other hand, off-spinner Sundar did not bowl in the first session. Both wore the Indian Test jersey in the ongoing game.

However, Avesh Khan sustained a blow to his left thumb on Day 1 of the warm-up game. He has gone to get a scan. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him.

Avesh khan is bowling john pic.twitter.com/w68aMvFa5y

— Er Rohit panwar (@the_great_rohit) July 20, 2021

This would be great to watch!#Indian#Durham#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/2YPsIboroN

— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) July 20, 2021

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Playing without the services of rested Indian captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, opener Rohit Sharma is leading the team in the three-day warm-up game at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street. They are likely to feature in the intra-squad game later this month.

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. 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. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him, and he is expected to fully recover well in time for the first Test against England starting from 4th August at Nottingham.

In the first session, India lost three wickets for the score of 80. Sharma departed after scoring 9 runs whereas Agarwal (28) and Cheteshwar Pujara (21) lost their wickets after getting good starts. Lyndon James got the wicket of both openers whereas Pujara fell to Jack Carson.

Team India are wearing black armbands to mourn the sad demise of former India cricketer Yashpal Sharmaji, who sadly passed away on 13th July after a cardiac arrest. Head Coach Ravi Shastri was his teammate in the 1983 World Cup winning squad

This game will be a chance for Hanuma Vihari and KL Rahul to showcase their talent before the five-Test series against England starting August 8.