India A got off to scratchy start on Day 1 of the three-day tour game against England in Mumbai on, but were rescued by half centuries from Abhinav Mukund and Yuvraj Singh. Opting to bat first,India A lost in-form opener Murali Vijay just for seven runs in a run out. India hopeful Ajinkya Rahane, too, couldn’t do much as Tim Bresnan picked him up just for 4.
Looking for Test comeback, Yuvraj Singh walked in at No. 4 and forged a partnership with Mukund to give India A’s scoring some momentum. While Yuvi quickly scored 59 (80 balls) before he was foxed by Graeme Swann and stumped by Matt Prior, Mukund was particularly punishing as he punished English bowlers with a 83-ball 73.
With India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir looking off-colour for some time now, this innings is surely going bring Mukund in the reckoning.
Manoj Tiwary then took over the mantle and made a strong claim for a India berth with a half century. Manoj played brilliantly and looked certain to get a hundred but fell on 93 after being rattled by Bresnan. Irfan Pathan played a good hand of 46.


Gautam Gambhir More stills




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