Twitter Reactions: Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten century headlines India's first day of warm-up game against Australia A

Ahead of the much-awaited four-match Test series between India and Australia, the visitors got into the action with the first warm-up game against Australia. India’s Test specialists finally got a hit out after a gap of so many months due to COVID-19. Even Australia A had some of the national team players including skipper Tim Paine and Travis Head.

After opting to bat first, India A got off to a worst possible start as their openers Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw failed to open the account. The team was struggling at 6/2 in the third over itself and it soon turned 40/3 after Hanuma Vihari was pinned in front of the stumps by Jackson Bird. But two of India’s most dependable players joined hands then to resurrect the innings.

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara batted patiently to stitch a 76-run partnership. The latter looked once again in his zone and seemed to be in no fuss despite not playing the sport for a long time. Pujara scored a half-century before a well-directed short ball had him fending awkwardly only for the edge to carry to the leg-slip fielder.

India A then endured a mini collapse again Wriddhiman Saha and Ravi Ashwin falling quickly just before Tea. From 116/3, they were reduced to 128/6 in no time and there were fears of the team getting bundled out for a paltry score.

Ajinkya Rahane stands tall

However, the skipper Ajinkya Rahane had other ideas. He took Kuldeep Yadav by his side and batted on patiently to first go past the 50-run mark. The latter also survived a couple of close calls but then looked determined on playing the second fiddle at the crucial stage. Rahane, meanwhile, upped the ante after getting his eye in post the Tea break.

He played some eye-catching strokes to add 69 runs for the 7th wicket and then 38 runs for 8th wicket with Umesh Yadav. At the fag end of the day, he also got to his 34th first-class century. Rahane looked in very good touch during his heroic knock and his confidence is of paramount importance for India given the fact that he will most probably leading the team after Virat Kohli leaves post the first Test.

India A managed to play out the day and posted 237 runs for the loss of 8 wickets after 90 overs with Rahane remaining unbeaten on 108 off 228 deliveries while Mohammed Siraj is hanging in with him. For Australia A, James Pattinson was the most impressive bowler with three wickets while Michael Neser picked a couple as well.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

The century for @ajinkyarahane88 bodes well. Important that him and @cheteshwar1 got a lot of time in the middle. Keen to see the openers get runs in the 2nd innings.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 6, 2020

34th century in first-class cricket for Ajinkya Rahane but his first while playing as a captain. #AUSAvINDA

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 6, 2020

Ajinkya Rahane has begun the tour with a super 100 #IndvsAus

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 6, 2020

A century for Ajinkya Rahane, a reminder for Australian fans that India bat a lot deeper than Kohli and Pujara.

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) December 6, 2020

An amazing 💯 to start his tour with ajinkya rahane certainly love playing overseas great sign for india..@mohsinaliisb @razi_haider

— YashGawade😎😎🔥 (@YashGawade2002) December 6, 2020

Shaw and Gill, both gone for ducks that too against an attack devoid of Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood.
Meanwhile Indian fans👇 pic.twitter.com/4IELz403xy

— Rishit_Sachinist •EF• (@RishitShukla) December 6, 2020

Ajinkya Rahane leading from the front! 👍👍

He brings up his hundred as Indians move to 212/7 after 84 overs. pic.twitter.com/Zjn7Lzr8Et

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2020

Hundred for Ajinkya Rahane in the first practice game. What a wonderful knock he's played, handled James Pattinson really well, really amazing to see him scoring runs. Hopefully the form continues against the main pace attack also in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. pic.twitter.com/KHLthpGJx0

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 6, 2020

Here's some fun with numbers ….

At this very point – with @ajinkyarahane88 on 107* in the warm-up match against Australia A …

Ajinkya Rahane (at 107* in his 146th FC match): 10988 runs, 34 x 100s
Sunil Gavaskar (after his 146th FC Match): 10988 runs, 32 x 100s

#AUSAvIND

— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) December 6, 2020

Classy century from @BCCI test vice captain @ajinkyarahane88 in warmup game..
Expecting same kind of performance in main series too..🙌#AUSAvINDA

— KARTHICK (@KarthickS_31) December 6, 2020

Well Played Jinkkss @ajinkyarahane88
What a start to the tour 🇮🇳 💯

— Jai (@Jai_B_D) December 6, 2020

Both Shaw and Gill got ducks, hope they score in 2nd innings and Vihari also gets some time in the middle

— Srini Chilakalapudi (@srini_cc) December 6, 2020

https://twitter.com/aikido_07/status/1335481045534167040?s=20

Top innings and an important one for Ajinkya . Glad , can see the side game .#AUSAvIND

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) December 6, 2020

@ajinkyarahane88 scores a century. @cheteshwar1 played a 140 ball 54, but the most bothering thing is no full time batsman apart from these two could spend time in the middle. Gill and Shaw went for ducks. Too much of work to do for the Indian think tank. #AUSvIND

— Shamak Layeeq (@shamaklayeeq95) December 6, 2020

Meanwhile runs scored by @y_umesh > sum of runs scored by Shaw, Gill, Vihari, Ashwin and Saha.

— Mohit Kakkar 🇮🇳 (@KakkarSpeaks) December 6, 2020