The addition of KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel to the India A team for the second unofficial Test will help them a lot in their preparation.
Wicketkeeper-batsmen KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel will leave for Australia ahead of the main team to take part in the unofficial second Test between India A and Australia A, scheduled to begin on November 7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The duo, who saw limited action in India’s recent Test series against New Zealand, aim to use the match as valuable preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rahul, who featured in the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, was replaced by Shubman Gill for the remaining games as Sarfaraz Khan secured the middle-order role. Jurel, who acted as a backup goalkeeper since Rishabh Pant’s return, saw minimal playing time and only briefly took up the gloves in the first Test when Pant suffered a knee injury.
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In the first match of the series, India A, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, suffered a seven-wicket defeat in Mackay. Bowled out for just 107 in the first innings, they staged a comeback in the second innings but fell short as Australia A, led by Nathan McSweeney, secured a comfortable victory, 1-0 up in the unofficial series.
The upcoming unofficial Test will be the only competitive match for Rahul and Jurel before the Border-Gavaskar series. Originally, the Indian management had planned an inter-squad match, but it was canceled in favor of match simulation and net sessions in Perth, prioritizing preparation focused on the middle wicket.
The India A squad for the unofficial Test includes several emerging players, with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy playing critical roles. Easwaran, positioned as a reserve opener, can be crucial given Rohit Sharma’s expected absence in the early stages of the Border-Gavaskar series, while Reddy’s all-round skills offer versatility in his first red-ball tour.
The BCCI has scheduled the departure of Rahul and Jurel for Tuesday, November 5, giving them time to settle in ahead of the November 7 match at the MCG.
