IND vs AUS: Ruturaj Gaikwad gets in the captaincy fray right before Border-Gavaskar trophy

Maharashtra and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad will reportedly lead the India 'A' team during the upcoming tour of Australia later this month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors are expected to announce the India 'A' squad for the upcoming series soon.

The visiting team is set to play two four-day matches ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Australia. India A will play two four-day matches between October 31 and November 10. They'll also play an intra-squad match with the senior India team before the first Test.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Likely To Lead India 'A' Squad In Upcoming Australia Tour

According to a report from ESPNcricinfo, Ruturaj Gaikwad will be given a chance to lead the India A team. Apart from Gaikwad, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Tamil Nadu opener Sai Sudharsan will make the cut. These openers have the chance to become a backup opener for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit Sharma may not play in the opening Test of the BGT series due to personal reasons. Rohit's absence will leave the opener position open. Performances during the India A tour to Australia will be crucial in selection. No backup opener has been named for the home Test series against New Zealand.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Or Abhimanyu Easwaran For BGT 2024-25?

Ruturaj Gaikwad made his international debut in a T20I against Sri Lanka in July 2021. The Maharashtra cricketer has played 23 T20Is and scored 633 runs with four fifties and one century. He has played only six ODI matches, scoring just 115 runs at a disappointing average of 19.16, including one fifty.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been with the Indian Test squad in the past. He was included in the squad during the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021 final. The Bengal batter was also part of a few bilateral Test series. He was last with the Indian national cricket team during the South Africa tour last December.

Nitish Kumar Reddy Set To Be Included in India 'A' Squad

Batters Devdutt Padikkal, B Indrajith, and Ricky Bhui, along with wicketkeeper batters Abhishek Porel and Ishan Kishan, will be included in the squad. Young Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently debuted in white-ball cricket against Bangladesh, is likely to be the only pace-bowling all-rounder in the squad.

Promising spin all-rounders Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar alongside fast bowlers Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, and Yash Dayal would likely round up the squad. Dayal will be considered for the upcoming Australia tour after being omitted from the squad for the New Zealand series.

India A's probable squad for the 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.

Also read: IND vs AUS: Ishan Kishan locked in before Border-Gavaskar Trophy