Two four-day matches between India-A and Australia-A, starting on Tuesday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here, promise to be more than just second-string contests — they could shape the Test futures of several players on both sides.
India has potential batting vacancies with home series against West Indies and South Africa later this year, while Australia is already casting an eye on its next tour of India in 2027. That contrast gives the series its edge: for some, like Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal, the path back to the senior side could open quickly; for others, like Sam Konstas and Todd Murphy, it’s about preparing for the long haul.
Shreyas, out of the Test set-up since 2024, will captain India-A — a key chance to revive a career that has yielded 811 runs at 36.86. With at least one middle-order spot vacant in the senior side, the 30-year-old will be eyeing it.
Padikkal last played in the Perth Test in 2024 but missed the England tour due to injury. Abhimanyu Easwaran, still uncapped despite frequent call-ups, will need to push for big runs, while Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are likely to jostle for the No. 3 slot.
Nitish Kumar Reddy returns from injury and could slot in at No. 7 while offering a third seam option behind Khaleel Ahmed and Prasidh Krishna. Left-armer Khaleel has a chance to impress with the selectors actively seeking variety, while Tanush Kotian will front the spin attack as he pushes to be Washington Sundar’s backup.
For Australia-A, Murphy headlines the attack as Nathan Lyon’s potential successor. Konstas and Nathan McSweeney, both with brief Test stints, will aim to master sub-continent conditions and strengthen their cases — a step towards ensuring Australia’s next tour here doesn’t catch them unprepared.
Published – September 15, 2025 10:26 pm IST