Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named captain of the India A team set to tour Australia later this month, positioning him as a strong candidate for a reserve opening spot in the Test squad. With India’s captain Rohit Sharma likely to miss one or both of the initial Tests in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series due to personal commitments, the series presents a vital opportunity for players to stake their claims.

This tour serves as a pivotal audition for potential Test openers from both India and Australia. The Australian team is actively seeking a long-term replacement for David Warner at the top of their batting order.

The India A squad features a mix of promising talent and seasoned players, including vice-captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and wicketkeepers Ishan Kishan and Abishek Porel. Other notable players in the squad are Devdutt Padikkal, Mukesh Kumar, and Khaleel Ahmed.

Gaikwad has been in impressive form, amassing 472 runs in 10 first-class innings this season, highlighted by a remarkable 145 in his last Ranji Trophy match for Maharashtra. His performance makes him a leading candidate to open alongside the exciting Yashasvi Jaiswal during the five-Test series.

Easwaran, who has previously been part of the India Test setup and captained the India A side in the series against England Lions, and Sudharsan, are also vying for the opening position, making this tour a crucial proving ground for all involved.