AUS A vs IND A Day 1: The tour of India for one of the most awaited Test series of the year has just begun with India A taking on Australia A in a first-class match. Stumps have been called for Day 1 and Australia are in slight advantage, and below are the AUS A vs IND A Day 1 Highlights.
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While the Indian T20 team is engaged in the T20I series against South Africa in South Africa, the official Test team of India has landed in Australia. Apart from the senior Men’s Test team, the BCCI also sent a squad under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad for a first-class game.
India A, under Ruturaj Gaikwad, are in a match against Australia A led by Nathan McSweeney. The game started today and below are the highlights of AUS A vs IND A Day 1.
AUS A vs IND A Day 1 Highlights
Australia A won the flip of the coin and India A asked to bat first. This is the first time when Ruturaj Gaikwad is leading India A in the first-class cricket. Tanush Kotian played his first match for India A in Australia and there were many other new names in the squad.
INDIA A Playing XI- Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Nitish Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Khaleel Ahmed, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar
AUSTRALIA A Playing XI- Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, Nathan McSweeney(c), Beau Webster, Oliver Davies, Jimmy Peirson(w), Michael Neser, Nathan McAndrew, Scott Boland, Corey Rocchiccioli
INDIA A innings Highlights
Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul opened the innings for India. India A had a nightmare start to their innings against Australia A, collapsing under fierce bowling pressure and ending up all out for just 161 runs. Right from the first over, Australia A’s bowlers seemed unstoppable, taking down India A’s top batters in no time.
The innings began with captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan falling for ducks, leaving the score at a shocking 0-2 within the first four balls. Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad tried to steady things, but both were dismissed quickly and by the third over, India A found themselves in deep trouble at 11-4.
In the middle order, Devdutt Padikkal tried to fight back, scoring a cautious 26 off 55 balls. Though he held on for a while, Padikkal’s dismissal at 64-5 left India A sinking again, and the pressure kept mounting.
Then came Dhruv Jurel, who put up the only serious resistance in an otherwise crumbling lineup. With an impressive 80 off 186 balls, Jurel stood tall against Australia’s bowlers, hitting six fours and two sixes. His innings, filled with grit and determination, gave India A a glimmer of hope, as he stretched the score closer to 161 before being dismissed at 155-9.
Australia A’s bowlers were relentless, and Michael Neser was their hero, taking 4 crucial wickets. Neser’s opening spell wrecked India A’s top order, and he never let them settle. Webster was equally destructive in the lower order, claiming three important wickets and wiping out any chance of a comeback.
With steady support from Rocchiccioli and McSweeney, Australia A’s bowling attack was on fire, breaking through India A’s lineup like it was a training exercise, never allowing a big partnership to form.
In the end, India A’s innings was a story of missed chances and one brave knock. Jurel’s fighting spirit stood out, but he was a lone warrior as the rest of the team crumbled around him. For Australia A, this dominant bowling performance has set the stage to take control of the game and put themselves in a strong position for a solid lead.
AUSTRALIA A innings highlights
Australia A had a steady, cautious start in their innings, reaching 43 runs for the loss of 2 wickets by 14.3 overs. Opener Nathan McSweeney managed to score 14 off 30 balls before being caught by Rahul off Mukesh Kumar’s bowling, giving India A an early breakthrough at 31-1.
Marcus Harris, on the other hand, looked more settled, scoring 26 off 42 balls with four boundaries. Cameron Bancroft struggled to get going, facing 22 balls but only scoring 3 runs before he was caught by Tanush Kotian off Khaleel Ahmed’s bowling, leaving Australia A at 43-2.
Now, Harris remains at the crease with Sam Konstas, who’s still finding his footing, scoring only 1 run from 11 balls. The Indian bowlers, particularly Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed, did well to keep things tight and put pressure on the batters. The rain interrupted at the last couple of minutes and the stumps were called.
India A will aim to pick up more wickets soon to prevent Australia A from building a big lead, while Australia A will look to Harris to steer them through this tricky phase and set up a solid first-innings score.
