India A pacers face audition as Australia A series begins in Puducherry
Gurjapneet Singh, Arshad Khan and Yash Thakur will have a chance to strengthen their claims for higher honours when India A take on Australia A in the first of a three-match one-day series here on Tuesday, with the national side still looking for reliable pace-bowling options.
The series was initially expected to mark Hardik Pandya's return to competitive cricket, but the all-rounder has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering a right shin injury.
With Pandya unavailable, India have limited options among seam-bowling all-rounders, with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Suryansh Shedge the other prominent choices. Shedge, who recently completed his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence, has replaced Pandya in the India A squad.
Naman Dhir, meanwhile, has linked up with the senior team for the T20Is and has been replaced by all-rounder Anukul Roy.
For the selectors led by Pragyan Ojha, the bigger interest in the series will be the development of ODI-ready fast bowlers through the pathways system.
Gurjapneet and Arshad are both left-arm seamers, while Thakur is a right-arm option. Arshad impressed during India A's tri-series in Sri Lanka, particularly with his bowling at the death, and can also contribute with the bat lower down the order.
All three have strong List A numbers. Gurjapneet has taken 17 wickets in nine matches, Arshad has 15 wickets in 11 games, while Thakur has 90 wickets from 57 appearances.
Their economy rates are also below six runs per over, a notable record in the 50-over format.
They will now face an Australia A batting line-up featuring Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney, both of whom have already represented Australia at the international level.
The opportunity comes at a time when India's pace pool remains unsettled. Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj have not made a strong impression on their ODI debuts, while Gurnoor Brar remains a work in progress.
Prasidh Krishna has struggled for consistency, Mohammed Siraj has not been at his best and Harshit Rana has been affected by recurring injuries.
With the ODI leg of India's upcoming tour of New Zealand approaching, the India A series could therefore provide a valuable audition for the three pacers.
Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, none of India's fast bowlers can be considered certain selections for that tour, making performances in Puducherry particularly relevant.
The India A batting line-up also has considerable experience, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan and Rajat Patidar having all represented the senior side.
India A will also have wicketkeeping options in Kumar Kushagra and Prabhsimran Singh, while Priyansh Arya, Arshin Kulkarni, Nishant Sindhu and Vipraj Nigam add depth to the squad.
Squads
India A: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan, Priyansh Arya, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Suryansh Shedge, Rajat Patidar, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Arshin Kulkarni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Arshad Khan, Anukul Roy.
Australia A: Aaron Hardie, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Lachlan Shaw, Riley Meredith, Ben Dwarshuis, Nikhil Chaudhary, Mahli Beardman, Mitch Owen, Jack Edwards, Tanveer Sangha, Spencer Johnson, Todd Murphy, Will Sutherland.
