The India A side is about to feature in a set of unofficial Test matches against the Australia A side, as the two tests are about to begin on the 31st of October. This will be the series played prior to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is a five-match red ball series played between India and Australia.
The BCCI has finally released the squad for the tour, as India A have announced Ruturaj Gaikwad, the rising Indian talent, as their skipper for the tour. Gaikwad has had an exemplary record in red-ball cricket, from his dominance in tournaments like the Duleep Trophy to his recent dominance in the Ranji Trophy.
Gaikwad has now emerged as one of India’s most prior options in the role of a skipper, as he captained in the Duleep Trophy, later in the Irani Cup, and lastly in the Ranji Trophy as well. The CSK skipper is now named the skipper of India A.
Other players who have made their most deserving place in the India XI would include Abhimanyu Easwaran, the centurion from the Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, and Ranji Trophy. Easwaran has also been in the buzz for being a backup opener for the Indian side if Rohit Sharma misses out on the first tests.
Tamil Nadu batter Sai Sudarshan, who had a stunning County season and the form carried onto the Ranji Trophy, he nailed the latest double-hundred against Delhi in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match.
The middle order too seems decorated with the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Ricky Bhui, and Baba Indrajith, while the likes of inform wicketkeeper-batsman would include Ishan Kishan, the Jharkhand batter who has been in form for some time now.
The bowling deck will include the likes of all-rounder Nitish Reddy, who recently made his India team debut in the shortest format of the game. He will have the likes of Indian campaigner Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Yash Dayal, and spinners Manav Suthar and Tanuj Kotian.
Alongside NK Reddy, the two spinners are similar to the Jadeja-Ashwin duo in the India team, who are standout bowlers and resistant with the bat as well.
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India A Squad for Australia Tour: Ruturaj Gaikwad [C], Abhimanyu Easwaran [vc], Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Devdutt Padikkal, Ricky Bhui, Baba Indrajith, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal, Navdeep Saini, Manav Suthar, and Tanuj Kotian.
