BCCI announces India A squads for One-Day, Multi-day series against Australia A, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed captains; Hardik Pandya included

The India A squads has been finalised by BCCI for the upcoming home fixture against Australia A. Scheduled to take place in Puducherry, the series will see the two sides playing two multi-day matches before moving into three one-day encounters.

While Devdutt Padikkal will lead India's Multi-day side, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed captain for One-Day team.

Hardik Pandya headlines India A squads for Australia A series

Stealing the spotlight in the roster announcement is Hardik Pandya’s call-up to the 50-over squad, though taking the field remains dependent on him clearing a pre-match fitness check. His presence injects major star power into the India A setup, creating a pivotal opportunity for the marquee player to demonstrate his physical readiness.

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After spending recent seasons carefully managing his physical load and prioritizing short-form cricket, facing a competitive Australia A side offers crucial game time. With the senior national team gearing up for the impending ODI World Cup in South Africa, these fixtures serve as an essential runway for him to regain match sharpness.

Beyond mere game practice, this stint functions as a direct evaluation of his ability to handle the rigors of 50-over cricket. Selectors will be paying close attention to his dual-threat capability, monitoring whether he can reliably deliver impactful overs with the ball alongside his aggressive work with the bat.

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Puducherry is set to host all five fixtures of the upcoming tour, starting with two multi-day games scheduled for September 22–25 and September 29–October 2. The action will then shift to limited-overs cricket, with a three-match one-day series taking place on October 6, 9, and 11. This series serves as a critical testing ground for the BCCI, offering a mix of emerging talent and seasoned domestic performers valuable game time ahead of future international assignments.

The red-ball roster, where Sai Sudharsan will be Padikkal's deputy, features a strong blend of prospects and proven performers, including N Jagadeesan, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Kumar Kushagra, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, Nachiket Bhute, and V Vyshak.

For the 50-over leg, a refreshed squad will take the field, highlighting dynamic talent such as Priyansh Arya, Rajat Patidar, Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Nishant Sindhu, Arshin Kulkarni, Vipraj Nigam, Arshad Khan, Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur, alongside Kushagra and Sudharsan. Notably, the availability of both Hardik Pandya and V Vyshak remains contingent on passing their official fitness evaluations.

India A One-Day squad for Australia A:

Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal [VC], Ruturaj Gaikwad [C], Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya*, Prabhsimran Singh [WK], Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur

India A Multi-day squad for Australia A:

Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal [C], Sai Sudharsan [VC], Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan [WK], Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak*