Padikkal, Jurel’s 228-Run Partnership Helps India A Force Draw Against Australia A

Devdutt Padikkal played an amazing 150, helping India A get very close to Australia A’s first-innings total of 532. But heavy rain on the last day stopped the game, and the first unofficial Test between the two teams ended in a draw at BRSABV, Lucknow, on Friday.

In a game where batting ruled, both teams scored big, with four centuries in total, while the bowlers struggled on a flat pitch. Australia A’s innings was led by Josh Philippe (123) and Sam Konstas (109), helping them reach 532/6 declared. India A got a steady start in reply, with Abhimanyu Easwaran, N. Jagadeesan, and Sai Sudharsan all scoring fifties. But at 222/4, things looked shaky until Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel took control.

The two batsmen put together a huge 228-run partnership. Dhruv Jurel played aggressively, scoring 140 off 197 balls, while Devdutt Padikkal stayed steady as the anchor. Even after Jurel got out on the last day, Padikkal kept going and reached 150. But rain ended any chance of a result. India A finally declared at 531/7, just one run behind Australia A’s total.

Rain Affects Outcome but Provides Valuable Learning Opportunity

Australia A’s openers, Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway, then put together an unbeaten 56-run partnership in 16 overs, adding to their first-innings stand of 198, before the game was stopped. For Australia A, offspinners Corey Rocchiccioli and Todd Murphy bowled most of the overs. Rocchiccioli was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 159 in 36.1 overs, including the important wickets of Padikkal, Shreyas Iyer, and Kotian.

Reflecting on the rain-affected match, Rocchiccioli said the weather didn’t help and a result might have been possible without it. He added that it was still a great experience for the team, giving players a chance to play in foreign conditions, learn more about their game, and have good discussions in the dressing room.

He said this helped everyone improve and be ready for the next game. Some players were playing their first match in a while, so the experience was very valuable. Talking about dismissing Shreyas Iyer, Rocchiccioli said there wasn’t any special plan, he just tried to bowl the ball on the stumps. He admitted it wasn’t his best delivery, but it spun and hit Iyer’s pad. He called Iyer a big player and said he just focused on bowling well and asking the right questions, and got lucky with the wicket.

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