New Delhi: Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A squad is set to return home after losing the two-match unofficial Test series against Australia A. As per the Cricbuzz report, Devdutt Padikkal will stay back in Australia as the team management decided to retain him as a backup for the senior team. Rohit and Co. will play a five-match Test series against Australia over the next 50 days.
The decision comes in due to the injuries to a couple of key top-order batters ahead of the first Test in Perth, scheduled to begin on November 22. Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the opening Test match due to a fractured thumb and KL Rahul also got struck on the elbow. However, he managed to bat during the three-day match simulation at the WACA on Sunday.
Additionally, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be available for the first test as he decided to stay back in Mumbai to spend time with his family. Rohit and Ritika recently welcomed a baby boy. Padikkal batted well against Australia A and registered scores of 36, 88, 26 and 1 in the four innings of the unofficial Test series.
While these performances are not good enough to get a spot in the senior team but the team management believes that his experience and familiarity with the conditions make him a good choice as backup. Dhruv Jurel who batted brilliantly in the second unofficial Test at the MCG is likely to be included in the playing XI for the first Test in Perth.
No immediate plan to send Shami to Australia
As per the same report, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has no plans to rush Mohammed Shami to Australia. The fast bowler recently made a comeback to competitive cricket after almost a year and picked up four wickets for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh.
However, as per the Cricbuzz report, the Indian team management wants him to play a few more domestic matches before coming back to the senior team. Shami might play for Bengal in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which is set to begin on November 23.
The first Border-Gavaskar Test between Australia and India is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
