Ruturaj Gaikwad to Captain India A as Ishan Kishan Makes a Comeback for Australia Tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a 15-member India A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia, set to kick off on October 31. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as captain, with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran serving as his vice-captain.

Ishan Kishan, who has demonstrated impressive form in recent domestic competitions, returns to the squad as one of the two wicketkeeper-batsmen selected, alongside Abishek Porel. Kishan's previous exclusion from the Indian team stemmed from his failure to prioritize domestic cricket, despite BCCI's directive to participate in last season's Ranji Trophy. His decision to take a personal break was not well-received by the board, resulting in his omission from the annual contracted players' list alongside Shreyas Iyer.

During the Australia tour, India A will compete in two first-class matches against Australia A in Mackay and Melbourne, followed by a three-day intra-squad game against the senior Indian team in Perth. This match will form part of Team India's preparatory camp for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the 2024/25 season.

With Rohit Sharma likely to miss the initial two Tests against Australia, the first matches of the India A tour present a valuable opportunity for young talents to showcase their skills and vie for a place in the national side. Selectors will be closely monitoring performances from players like Gaikwad and Easwaran during these fixtures.