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Maharashtra and Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad will reportedly take charge of the India 'A' tour of Australia which will precede the all-important Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
The visiting team would play two four-day matches in Mackay between October 31 and November 10. They'll then play against Team India in a warm-up game in Perth before the first Test begins in the same city on November 22.
According to a PTI report, Gaikwad's teammates would include his batting competition for India's backup opening spot, Bengal's Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Tamil Nadu's Sai Sudharsan. Other consistent domestic batters Ricky Bhui, Devdutt Padikkal, and Baba Indrajith also look set to make the cut.
Other reports have suggested skipper Rohit Sharma might miss the start of the series and the first Test. The back-up opener spot is vacant at the moment and performances on this 'A' tour could determine who's ready for the conditions Down Under.
Young Abhishek Porel and comeback man Ishan Kishan would be the wicketkeepers. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently made his India white-ball debut against Bangladesh, could be the sole all-rounder in what would be an important chance for him to prove his red-ball mettle.
Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal was left out of India's Test squad against New Zealand but would be trusted for this tour. His competition would be Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed, with the quartet likely to compete for one spot in India's squad.
Impressive spin all-rounders Manav Suthar and Tanush Kotian would likely round up the squad. This could be seen as an indication of who are the front-runners to inherit the spaces that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will leave in a few years.
India A's probable 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, and Yash Dayal.
