KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel's addition to India A squad for the second unofficial Test will help them a great deal with their preparation.
Wicketkeeper-batters KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel are set to depart for Australia ahead of the main squad to participate in the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A, scheduled to begin on November 7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The duo, who saw limited action in India’s recent Test series against New Zealand, aim to leverage the match as valuable preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rahul, who featured in the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, was replaced by Shubman Gill for the remaining games as Sarfaraz Khan secured the middle-order role. Jurel, acting as the backup keeper since Rishabh Pant’s return, had minimal playtime, only briefly taking the gloves in the first Test when Pant sustained a knee injury.
In the series opener, India A, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, suffered a seven-wicket defeat in Mackay. Dismissed for just 107 in the first innings, they staged a comeback in the second innings but fell short, as the Nathan McSweeney-led Australia A secured a comfortable victory, going 1-0 up in the unofficial series.
The upcoming unofficial Test will be the only competitive match for Rahul and Jurel before the Border-Gavaskar series. Originally, the Indian management planned an intra-squad game, but it was canceled in favour of match simulation and net sessions in Perth, prioritizing focused preparation on the center wicket.
India A’s squad for the unofficial Test includes several emerging players, with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy holding critical roles. Easwaran, positioned as a reserve opener, may be crucial given Rohit Sharma’s expected absence in the early stages of the Border-Gavaskar series, while Reddy’s all-round skills offer versatility on his first red-ball tour.
The BCCI has scheduled Rahul and Jurel’s departure for Tuesday, November 5, allowing them time to settle in before the November 7 match at the MCG.
