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.
ALSO READ: No Shreyas Iyer for India vs West Indies ODI series, Know why vice-captain misses out
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.
ALSO READ: BCCI bags Rs 130 crore deal with 3 new associate sponsors, ChatGPT joins roster
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*