• Home
  • Cricket News
  • India Vs Prime Ministers Xi Why Are Kohli And Bumrah Not On The Field In Canberra

India Vs Prime Minister's XI: Why Are Kohli and Bumrah Not On The Field In Canberra?

Muskaan Bhatt

Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in Canberra nets (Source: @OneCricketApp/X.com)Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in Canberra nets (Source: @OneCricketApp/X.com)

Story continues below ADVERTISEMENT

The stakes are high as India will meet Australia for the Pink-Ball Test in Adelaide on Friday, December 6. To familiarise themselves with the conditions, the Indian team is engaged in a two-day practice Test against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.

However, the weather had other plans. Day 1 was washed out due to rain, and the second day was halted due to precipitation. While Rohit Sharma's side got off to a good start here by winning the toss and opting to field first, Mohammad Siraj came to open the bowling for his side. 

Meanwhile, what grabbed the attention was that India's two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, were absent from the main ground. Later, visuals emerged showing that Kohli and Bumrah were hell-bent on upping their game by facing the two bests of the game, i.e. one another.

Best vs Best: Kohli vs Bumrah At Canberra

In the pictures, Kohli, who recently slammed his 81st ton against Australia in the first Test, is sweating it out against Bumrah as he bowls some fiery deliveries. The 30-year-old right-arm fast bowler played a crucial role in the Perth Test, where he bagged eight wickets, led India to their first-ever victory in Perth, and created history. The duo was seen focused and practicing hard in the nets at Canberra while the others engaged the Aussies in the warm-up match.



36 All Out! When India Faced Their Worst 'Test' Day Ever!

In the 2020 Pink Ball Test, India against Australia at Adelaide faced one of the most demoralising defeats in test cricket history. A well-placed start was offered by the then Indian captain, Kohli with 74 runs as a score of 244 was set up by India in the first innings. At the end of Australia's innings, Tim Paine scored 73 runs, while R. Ashwin pocketed four wickets back for India and they were at 191.

However, the third day witnessed a dramatic collapse. India, resuming their second innings at 9/1, was completely overwhelmed by Australia's pace attack. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were relentless, sharing nine wickets between them. India's batting crumbled to a dismal 36, their lowest-ever total in Test cricket, with no batter reaching double figures. Hazlewood took five wickets, while Cummins claimed four.

Australia required only 90 runs to win and achieved this comfortably, losing only two wickets. Joe Burns remained not out on 51, while Australia claimed a memorable win by eight wickets.