Predicted India A Playing XI vs SA A: Rishabh Pant returns as Patidar & Padikkal eye runs

Earlier this month, the Indian fans saw the much-awaited returns of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The two legends played the ODI series and delighted the Indian fans. Now, another huge comeback is in store for the fans as Rishabh Pant is all set to hit the ground running. After the horrific injury he endured in Manchester against England, Pant will now lead India A in the upcoming two four-day unofficial Test match series against South Africa A.

The BCCI named two separate squads for India A, with Pant leading in both the games. The likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, N Jagadeesan would love to take the opportunity in the opening Test before regulars like KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel join the team. Below, we see how the India A team could line up in the first bout at BCCI’s CoE Ground 1.

Great chance for Patidar, Padikkal & Jagadeesan

The team for the first match doesn’t have many opening options. Tamil Nadu’s N. Jagadeesan is the only traditional opener and hence he will be selected despite Pant being the keeper. Currently, Jagadeesan is the third-choice Indian keeper in Tests as he was selected in the IND vs WI Tests too. He flew to England as a backup to Jurel when Pant was ruled out of the fifth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test. Jagadeesan made 197 in the Duleep Trophy semi-final as well.

Opening alongside him would be Devdutt Padikkal, who is just one spot away from breaking into the Indian Test team. Currently, India have Sai Sudharsan at number three, while Padikkal continues to be on the bench. This match gives a golden chance for Padikkal to prove a point. He made a 150 for India A in the last series against Australia A and also recorded a 96 in the only Ranji Trophy game he has played so far.

Sudharsan would bat at one down and would nail down the spot. His overall first-class average is below 40 and that often points criticism at him. Undoubtedly, Sudharsan is quite talented but he needs some runs under his belt. Otherwise, a player like Rajat Patidar is breathing down his neck. Patidar is in terrific form. He led Central Zone to a Duleep Trophy win in a campaign where he scored 382 runs at 76.40, including a century in the final. Then, in the Ranji Trophy opener, Patidar made a statement again by smashing a double century, his maiden in FC cricket.

At number five would be the player who will have all the limelight. Rishabh Pant, India’s vice-captain, will look to find some rhythm before the India vs South Africa two-match Test series starts in November. Pant has been sidelined for almost last 100 days. He featured in the England Tests away from home, where he made 479 runs at 68.43. While he is going to play his natural game, it would be fascinating to see how his body reacts. After all, he knows a thing or two when it comes to making returns from an injury.

Spin all-rounders galore for India A

The lower-order of India A is power-packed with spin-bowling all-rounders. Ayush Badoni, Delhi’s captain, would find himself in. He is making rounds in domestic cricket for sometime now and has been a regular fixture in India A squads. He is the only player alongside Saransh Jain who played the Ranji Trophy game that started on October 25. Although he didn’t make enough runs in the tournament, Badoni would take confidence from the double hundred he scored in the Duleep Trophy.

Now among Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey, only three would play and we have included the first three. All four of them have done incredibly well. Kotian has received a Test call-up at the BGT, while Suthar and Saransh are in superb form. Suthar recently took 13 wickets for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, while Saransh already has a century and 7 wickets in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

Anshul Kamboj and Yash Thakur would pair among pacers. Kamboj had a forgettable international debut in England, and the BCCI has done well to give him another chance. Kamboj hasn’t had the best of starts in this domestic season but would take heart from being the only ‘India’ bowler in the lineup. As for Thakur, he took a vital four-fer in the Irani Cup to take Vidarbha to the title. India A could also look at Gurnoor Brar, who is as talented as anyone. However, the selected pacers need to create a havoc and make their importance felt since they might not get a chance when the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep join the team before the second unofficial Test.

India A Playing XI for 1st Test vs SA A

N Jagadeesan
Devdutt Padikkal
Sai Sudharsan
Rajat Patidar
Rishabh Pant (wk)
Ayush Badoni
Tanush Kotian
Manav Suthar
Saransh Jain
Anshul Kamboj
Yash Thakur

India A squad for 1st Unofficial Test vs SA A

Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain

India A squad for 2nd Unofficial Test vs SA A

Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep