India A Thrashes Australia A In 1st Unofficial Test Before BGT

India A beat Australia A by 162 runs [Source: AFP]India A got off to a great start to the Australia A series at home with an emphatic 162-run win over the visitors in Puducherry. With this, they take a 1-0 lead in the two-match red-ball series before heading into the white-ball leg.The series can be considered an unofficial curtain-raiser for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the January to March window. Hence, quite a few players across both teams were also auditioning for a potential spot in the national team.Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian rescue India A’s collapseThe first of the two four-day matches of the series started with captain Devdutt Padikkal winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Siechem Ground.After the first few overs, when pacer Fergus O’Neill made the best use of the new ball and dismissed Aman Mokhade LBW, spinners found help early on Day 1. Padikkal soon followed to the pavilion after handing a sharp catch to the slips off Todd Murphy.Returning from an injury layoff, Sai Sudharsan looked solid for his 57(103) before building a small partnership with Shaik Rasheed. Both fell prey to Corey Rocchiccioli as c&b alongside Yash Rathod. Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian then came in and added 138 runs for the 6th wicket.Despite going off injured for a while, Kushagra scored an important 113(240), while Kotian added 69(138) to help India reach 334 runs with the lower order. Off-spinners Rocchiccioli and Murphy were the pick of the bowlers with 4/95 and 3/77, respectively.Also Read: Ajit Agarkar Decisions That Caused A Stir, But Proved Beneficial In The Long RunAussie batting perishes despite valiant spin-bowling displayAustralia A lost opener Campbell Kellaway early in both innings, while Sam Konstas offered some resistance at the top.Australia probables Nathan McSweeney and Peter Handscomb did not trouble the scorers much in the first innings, but some lower-middle order contributions, including highest scorer Jason Sangha 46(64), helped them scrape through to 171 runs, as they conceded a 163-run lead.Indian bowling was led by Shams Mulani’s 4/67 and Tanush Kotian’s 2/31, while the pacers played a good supporting act, picking up 4 wickets among the three of them.The Aussie bowling responded well in the second innings. While Rocchiccioli displayed his experience in the first innings, his competition of sorts, Todd Murphy, outbowled him in the second with 4/48. Liam Scott and Brendan Dogett picked a couple of wickets each.Padikkal’s 59, alongside another quality effort from Kushagra (46 off 59) and Sai Sudharsan’s 39(85), took India to 199 runs in the second innings.The visitors folded yet again and got rolled over by a brilliant effort from the Mumbai trio. Tushar Deshpande got 3/14, with 3/57 from Shams Mulani and 2/57 from Kotian.Sam Konstas, McSweeney and Handscomb got their eye in but could not score big. Bowling all-rounder Fergus O’Neill top-scored with 47 off 52, and Australia A were bowled out for 200 runs.Which players from India A’s win vs Australia A can be seen in BGT 2027?The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 is still a few months away, and both teams are set to play a Test series away from home. So, a lot can change in the meantime; however, looking at the current requirements for India and Australia Test teams, the following players from this match could play in the BGT.Devdutt Padikkal – 3(14) and 59(88)Sai Sudharsan – 57(103) and 39(85)Corey Rocchiccioli – 4/95 and 0/33Todd Murphy – 3/77 and 4/48Tanush Kotian – 69(138); 2/31; 8(14) & 2/57.Kumar Kushagra and Shams Mulani had a brilliant match across both innings; however, according to India's current needs, they are unlikely to get chances in the series.Also Read: Nepal Almost Eliminate Reigning Silver Medalist Afghanistan In Asian Games