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India A and Australia A are set to lock horns in the first unofficial Test of their two-match series at Puducherry on Tuesday, September 22. The four-day encounter will give several fringe players from both sides an opportunity to make a strong case for higher honours.
India A will be led by Devdutt Padikkal, with Sai Sudharsan serving as his deputy. The squad includes promising batters such as Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod and Shaik Rasheed, alongside experienced domestic performers including Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande. Vijaykumar Vyshak has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by off-spinner Tripurana Vijay.
Australia A, meanwhile, have named a strong four-day squad featuring Peter Handscomb, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, Todd Murphy, Corey Rocchiccioli, Brendan Doggett and Jhye Richardson. Handscomb has been handed the captaincy for the first fixture, while McSweeney has been freed from leadership duties to concentrate on his batting and push his case for a Test return.
Here are 3 player battles to watch out for in India A vs Australia A:
The contest between Sai Sudharsan and Jhye Richardson could be one of the most intriguing battles of the match.
Sudharsan has emerged as one of India’s most promising red-ball batters and has been named vice-captain of the India A side. His ability to bat for long periods and build an innings makes him a key player in India’s top order.
Richardson, meanwhile, arrives in Puducherry with a clear objective. The Australian pacer is looking to work his way back into the national Test setup after an injury-interrupted period and has openly stated that playing Test cricket remains his priority. He is also eyeing the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India.
Richardson’s pace and ability to extract movement could challenge Sudharsan early in his innings. The Indian left-hander will need to be patient against the new ball, particularly if the Australian quick gets lateral movement off the surface.
At the same time, if Sudharsan survives the initial spell, he could look to put pressure on Richardson by accumulating runs and forcing the pacer into longer spells.
Sam Konstas against Anshul Kamboj could be another fascinating battle at the top of the order.
Konstas is among Australia’s most closely watched young batters and is expected to open alongside Campbell Kellaway. The teenager has already made his Test debut for Australia and will be looking to use this India A series to strengthen his case for future opportunities. Australia are also using the tour to expose their younger players to subcontinental conditions ahead of the senior team’s future assignments in India.
Kamboj, meanwhile, provides India A with a promising seam-bowling option. The Haryana pacer has been part of India’s wider red-ball pathway and can bowl long spells while generating movement with the new ball.
The conditions in Puducherry could make this contest particularly interesting. Reports suggest the pitches are expected to be batting-friendly, although Australia’s young batters are hoping to experience more turn during the tour.
Kamboj’s challenge will be to prevent Konstas from settling into his innings. The Australian opener, in turn, will need to judge the movement carefully and avoid giving India A an early breakthrough.
Peter Handscomb and Shams Mulani could produce a classic middle-overs battle once the spinners enter the contest.
Handscomb has been appointed Australia A captain for the four-day fixtures and is one of the most experienced players in the squad. The veteran batter is also pushing for a return to Australia’s Test side, making his performance in Puducherry particularly significant.
India A could turn to left-arm spinner Shams Mulani to challenge him during the middle stages. Mulani is a prolific domestic performer and has extensive experience bowling long spells in first-class cricket.
If the Puducherry surface begins to offer turn as the match progresses, Mulani’s accuracy and ability to attack the stumps could test Handscomb’s patience. The Australian, however, has plenty of experience playing spin in Indian conditions and will look to use his footwork and sweep shots to disrupt the bowler’s rhythm.
The battle could become especially important if Handscomb walks in after an early Australian collapse. A substantial innings from the captain would give Australia A control, while a breakthrough for Mulani could expose the visitors’ lower order.
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