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India-A Players Who Need To Perform In Australia-A Test Series To Revamp Test Career

Aashay Chopade

Shreyas Iyer in Test cricket for India (Source: @ESPNcricinfo/X.com)Shreyas Iyer in Test cricket for India (Source: @ESPNcricinfo/X.com)

India A are all set to take on Australia A in the first of the two-match unofficial Test series. Both the matches will be played in Lucknow, and the series is a golden opportunity for many Test hopefuls to show their prowess.

India's next Test assignment at the senior level is against West Indies in October, and thus, this A series is crucial for many people on the fringes. Therefore, in this article, we will see three players for whom a good performance against Australia A could be a fortune-changing event.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer will lead the India A in the two Tests, and undoubtedly, this series is crucial for him. He has played 12 Tests for India before and has done decently. However, he has been out of favour in the format since February 2024 despite going well in domestic cricket.

Shreyas Iyer's Batting Stats In Test Cricket

Criterion
Data
Innings24
Runs811
Average36.86
100s/50s1/5

The right-handed batter has an excellent first-class average of 48.12 and has scored runs in pressure situations. Also, he has dominated in white-ball cricket lately, and after mediocre performances from Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan in England, there are chances that selectors might look at Iyer as a batting option.

Shreyas Iyer is also an excellent player of spin, a quality India would need in home conditions against the West Indies. Therefore, the A series is an important one for him as good performance here might open a middle-order position for him in the longest format.

Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed, the left-arm seamer, would also be in the spotlight during the Tests against Australia A. India is looking for new pacers with injury concerns surrounding their senior pros and Khaleel, with his left-arm angle, can fetch selectors' attention.

Khaleel Ahmed's Bowling Stats In First-Class Cricket

Criterion
Data
Innings24
Runs64
Average30.8
Strike-Rate54.4
4W/5W
3/1

The pacer from Rajasthan has also been in good form in recent times. He impressed during the India A tour of England with a four-fer as well, and then had a fruitful County stint. The cricketer also bowled well in the Duleep Trophy and has shown skills to pick wickets in Indian conditions with his variations and ability to make things happen with the old ball too. Therefore, if he does well, he might get a maiden call-up in the Indian Test side.

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal was in the Indian Test squad during the tour of Australia, but failed in the only Test he played. However, he started his Test career with a fifty and has been churning out runs quite consistently at the domestic level.

Devdutt Padikkal's Batting Stats In First-Class Cricket

Criterion
Data
Innings73
Runs2888
Average41.85
100s/50s6/18

The injury in the IPL forced him out of the India A tour of England earlier in the year, but he is back in the mix now and scored a fifty in the Duleep Trophy. Also, there could be a shootout between Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan for that number 3 spot in the Test team, and if Padikkal does well against Australia A, he might move ahead in the race.