Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India A for Australia tour: Reports

Ruturaj Gaikwad is all set to lead India A on their tour of Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, according to a report on ESPNCricinfo. India A will play two unofficial Tests against Australia A, starting October 31 in Mackay, before reaching its conclusion on November 10 in Melbourne. 

The 15-member squad is also expected to have Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan, who along with Gaikwad will audition for an opening spot in the Indian side, as Rohit Sharma is expected to miss one of the first two Tests due to personal reasons.

Easwaran has been in terrific form of late, having clammed a couple of tons in the Duleep Trophy, 191 in the Irani Cup vs Mumbai, and an unbeaten 127 against Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Sudharsan slammed a hundred in his county stint recently before a ton in the Duleep Trophy, and in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy he scored his maiden double-hundred against Delhi.

Gaikwad led Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Mumbai recently and also started off the Ranji Trophy with 86 against Jammu & Kashmir before being dismissed for a duck in the next match against Mumbai.

Devdutt Padikkal, B Indrajith and Ricky Bhui are expected to slot in the middle-order, while Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar and Nitish Kumar Reddy will don the role of all-rounders. There could be a way back to the Indian side for Ishan Kishan as he is expected to travel with the A team along with Abishek Porel, who will be the two wicketkeepers. 

Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Dayal will probably be the fast bowlers.

Gaikwad is also expected to lead India A in the intra-squad warm-up match against the Indian side before the opening Test against Australia in Perth between November 15 and 17.

India A squad for tour of Australia: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, B Indrajith, Abishek Porel (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Mukesh Kumar, Ricky Bhui, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Manav Suthar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Tanush Kotian, Yash Dayal

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