Ruturaj Gaikwad Set to Lead India A on Australia Tour

Ruturaj Gaikwad is poised to captain the India A team during their upcoming tour of Australia later this month. This tour will not only provide valuable match practice but also serve as a platform for some backup players vying for spots in the Test squad.

The 15-member squad is expected to feature additional opening batsmen, including Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan. With Rohit Sharma likely to miss one of the first two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for personal reasons, the need for a reserve opener in the Test squad has become crucial.

The matches against Australia A will be critical for several players, as they could either enhance their skills or function as auditions for selection into the Test squad. The middle-order lineup for the India A squad is anticipated to include Devdutt Padikkal, B Indrajith, and Ricky Bhui. Abishek Porel and Ishan Kishan will serve as the wicket-keepers, while the allrounder positions are likely to be filled by Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, and Manav Suthar. The fast-bowling department will feature Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, and Yash Dayal.

Easwaran, 29, has previously been part of India’s Test squad during the 2022 tour of Bangladesh. He has had an impressive domestic season, scoring two centuries in the Duleep Trophy, another century in the Irani Trophy, and kicking off the Ranji Trophy season with a ton for Bengal. Meanwhile, Sudharsan, 23, has also made headlines, scoring a first-class century for English county Surrey in August, followed by a century in the Duleep Trophy and a double-hundred in Tamil Nadu's current Ranji Trophy match in Delhi.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, the promising 21-year-old allrounder, recently recovered from a hernia and made his T20I debut for India against Bangladesh earlier this month. He is currently a reserve player in India's Test squad for the home series against New Zealand. The selectors view him as a potential allrounder who could develop further with more experience and exposure.

India A's schedule includes two four-day matches against Australia A, the first of which will take place in Mackay starting October 31, followed by a second match in Melbourne on November 7. After these fixtures, India A will face the main India squad in a warm-up match in Perth from November 15 to 17, before the first Test against Australia kicks off on November 22.

India A Squad for Australia Tour

• Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Openers: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan
• Middle Order: Devdutt Padikkal, B Indrajith, Ricky Bhui
• Wicket-Keepers: Abishek Porel, Ishan Kishan
• Allrounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar
• Fast Bowlers: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal

The upcoming series represents an exciting opportunity for these players to make their mark and potentially secure a place in the Test team as they prepare to face a strong Australian side.