Ruturaj Gaikwad to Captain India A squad for Australia Tour
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to lead the 15-member India A Squad for the Australia tour. The young Indian squad will play against Australia A in two four-day games and later, face India’s senior squad for a warm-up match. Gaikwad’s new responsibility makes him a contender to become a backup opener for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting from November 22.
Gaikwad is currently playing in the Ranji Trophy and scored a century in the previous game for Maharashtra. He is likely to be the first-choice backup opener for India. Gaikwad is likely to replace Rohit Sharma in the first Test as the latter will be unavailable due to personal reasons.
Audition for Border Gavaskar Trophy
Gaikwad will be joined by Abhimanyu Easwaran who will serve as his deputy. Sai Sudharsan has also been included in the squad after performing high in the domestic games. This series is kind of an audition for backup players who have been consistent in domestic red-ball cricket. Gaikwad and Easwaran are the frontrunners to break into the main squad.
India A will travel with two wicket keepers Abishek Porel and Ishan Kishan. Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, and Yash Dayal will lead the pace attacks. Nitish Reddy who made his T20I debut against Bangladesh, will also travel to Australia. He is already in the reserves for the ongoing New Zealand series.
Men in Blue to play Intra Warm-Up game
India A’s campaign will kick off against Australia A on October 31 with the first 4-day game in Mackay. They will play the second game in Melbourne on November 7. India A will reach Perth to face India’s senior squad in the 3-day warm-up fixture, starting on November 15.
Team India was earlier offered a warm-up fixture against Cricket Australia XI but they decided to make practice with India A and cricket betting experts are closely watching which players to bet on.
India A Squad for Australia Tour:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, B Indrajith, Sai Sudharsan, Abishek Porel (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Mukesh Kumar, Ricky Bhui, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Manav Suthar, Yash Dayal, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, and Tanush Kotian.
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