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According to a report on Saturday, Indian selectors may ask a few India A batters to stay back in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as a backup measure.
Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad to stay in Australia as back-up measure. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal, who played in the two unofficial Test matches for India A against Australia A earlier this month, are likely to stay in Australia as back-ups for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Team India is dealing with injury-related issues to many first-team players ahead of the start of the five-match Test series. KL Rahul suffered an injury on Friday (November 15), and it has been reported on Saturday that star batter Shubman Gill has injured his thumb and is doubtful for the series opener at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 22 onwards.
According to a report in Cricbuzz on Saturday, “The India A team, under Ruturaj Gaikwad, is still in Australia, and the selectors may ask a few batters to stay back for the series as a backup measure.”
Gaikwad, who failed to do much with the bat in the two unofficial Tests against Australia A in Mackay and Melbourne, impressed with his performance in the intra-squad match played at WACA Stadium in Perth on Saturday. He hammered four sixes, with two of them coming off R. Ashwin’s bowling.
Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal, who made his Test debut in March 2024 and scored 65 runs in the first innings, also performed well in the first session on Saturday and looked quite comfortable even against Jasprit Bumrah. If needed, Padikkal or Gaikwad could be added to India’s squad for the series.
While Padikkal has played one Test for India, Gaikwad is yet to become an Indian Test cricketer.
Shami to join Team India
It has been reported that star pacer Mohammed Shami, who made a comeback to competitive cricket after a gap of almost one year earlier this week, is all set to join Team India in Australia. The 34-year-old will travel to Australia with Rohit Sharma in the coming days and join the Indian team. Shami proved his fitness by bowling more than 40 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in Indore and also picked up seven wickets to set up a narrow 11-run win for his team.
