Rahul, Jurel Struggle Against Australia A Before Squad Selection

India’s Test squad hopefuls endured a disappointing outing against Australia A in Lucknow on September 24, just hours before the selectors announce the team for the upcoming West Indies series. The timing couldn’t have been worse for several players fighting for crucial spots in the squad.

KL Rahul’s lean patch continued as the senior opener managed only 11 runs from 24 balls before falling to Will Sutherland. His struggle with the bat raises serious questions about his chances of returning to India’s red-ball setup. Stand-in captain Dhruv Jurel, despite his impressive 140 in the previous unofficial Test, managed just one run this time around.

Top Order Collapse Hurts Selection Chances

The India A batting lineup crumbled under pressure, with promising talents Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy also departing for single-digit scores. This collective failure has complicated the selectors’ task as they finalize the squad in Dubai.

Australia A dominated the proceedings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, posting over 400 runs in their first innings. The visitors’ commanding performance exposed the fragility of India’s batting options ahead of a crucial home series.

Bright Spots Amid Struggle

Narayan Jagadeesan provided some resistance with a steady 38 off 45 balls, showcasing both batting ability and wicketkeeping skills that could earn him a backup spot. Sai Sudharsan and Ayush Badoni also showed fighting spirit during their partnership, offering rare positives on an otherwise forgettable day.

The West Indies series, beginning October 2 in Ahmedabad, marks a new era for Indian cricket with Shubman Gill set to lead the team following the retirement of senior stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin earlier this year.