BP XI v SA | Rohit Sharma scores duck, Umesh Yadav concedes 56 in 11 overs in warm-up match

Brief scores: South Africa 279/6 (Markram 100, Bavuma 87*, Philander 48, Jadeja 3/66, Porel 1/26) drew against Board Presidents XI 265/8 (Bharat 71, Panchal 60, Lad 52*, Maharaj 3/35, Philander 2/27)

The move up the order that proved a masterstroke in Rohit’s ODI career may well not pay off in the longest version of the game. In the Test squad against the Proteas as an opener in place of the inconsistent KL Rahul, Rohit lasted only two deliveries before Philander got him to nick one through to Heinrich Klaasen. The BP XI reached 265 for eight before the game was declared drawn, courtesy of half-centuries from Priyank Panchal, Srikar Bharat, and Mumbaikar Siddhesh Lad. Panchal put together a stroke-filled 60, while wicket-keeper Bharat made 71, while Lad remained unbeaten on. Rohit’s opening partner Mayank Agarwal made 39 before falling to the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj. For South Africa, Philander, Maharaj, and Kagiso Rabada were among the wickets, while Lungi Ngidi conceded 55 runs from his 8 overs. 

Earlier, South Africa cruised through to 279 for six on the back of captain Aiden Markram's century, Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 87 and Philander’s quickfire 48. Yadav — who is trying to make it into the playing XI in the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah — leaked runs at will. With India highly unlikely to play three seamers in subcontinent conditions, it seems that Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami will be picked ahead of Yadav. However, the duck may not affect Rohit’s place in the playing XI for the first Test, although Shubman Gill is an available option. It is understood that the team management is willing to give Rohit ample time to settle into a role he has never played in his career before. The first Test between India and South Africa gets underway on October 2 at Visakhapatnam.