India Tour Match Preview - 21/6/2022

Batters to Watch:

Captain Rohit Sharma will be leading India for their rescheduled Test match against England, starting on the 1st July at Edgbaston, so will no doubt be keen for some time in the middle at the UptonSteel County Ground over the coming four days against Leicestershire.

One of the most high profile players of the modern game, the 35 year old has scored 3,137 Test match runs at a superb average of 46.13, with a career best of 212, eight centuries and 14 fifties to his name.  Renowned for scoring quickly in the longest format as well as in white ball cricket, expect Sharma to play an attacking brand of cricket.

Former India captain Virat Kohli will, of course, be a major draw to spectators over the duration of this warm-up match, with one of the all-time greats being one of the most recognisable players in the world, not to mention being one of the best Test batsmen at the current time.

Kohli has now crossed the 8,000 run mark in Test matches, with a highest score of 254 not out, and an average just shy of the 50 runs per dismissal mark.  With 27 centuries and 28 fifties, Kohli’s conversion rate from 50 to 100 is exceptional, and he will clearly be a prize wicket for the Running Foxes bowlers.

Bowlers to Watch:

Having starred yet again in the IPL, India pacer Jasprit Bumrah now reverts to red-ball mode, and the 28 year old has had a stunning start to his Test career over the last five years.  Since his debut, Bumrah has taken 123 Test wickets at an elite average of 21.73, and taking a wicket every 49 balls.  Furthermore, while also starring from a balls per wicket perspective, Bumrah’s skills are also showcased by his economy rate at the highest level of red ball cricket - an economy rate of 2.65 is magnificent.

While Bumrah is a world-class pacer, India also have a spin wizard in their ranks with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja offering a huge threat with both bat and ball.  The 33-year-old left arm spinner has taken 242 Test wickets at an average of 24.44 - truly incredible numbers for a spinner - with an extremely tight economy rate of just 2.42 runs per over.

Adding to these bowling numbers for Jadeja is almost 2,400 Test match runs, with a Test best of 175 not out and an average in the mid thirties. Jadeja has scored two Test centuries and 17 fifties, suitably illustrating the threat he poses with the bat as well as with the ball.

India Squad:

Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

Vice-Captain KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin have both been unable to travel, after originally being selected in India’s 17-man touring party.

Leicestershire CCC Squad:

Sam Evans (Capt), Rehan Ahmed, Sam Bates (wk), Nat Bowley, Will Davis, Joey Evison, Louis Kimber, Abi Sakande, Roman Walker.