Australia A’s tour of India kicked off on September 16, 2025 amid rain interruption that delayed the start. The captain of Australia A, Nathan McSweeney, won the toss and elected to bat first in the first unofficial Test, capitalising on the conditions to post a mammoth total. Openers Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway laid the foundation with a brisk 88 from Kellaway, but it was the middle-order performances that propelled them to 532 for 6 declared in 98 overs in their first innings.
Konstas bludgeoned a rapid 109, while Josh Philippe remained unbeaten on a brutal 123 off just 87 balls, including a flurry of boundaries that left the Indian bowlers searching for answers. Xavier Bartlett chipped in with a quickfire 39 not out off 24 deliveries,
ensuring the declaration came early on day two. In their reply, Indian camp witnessed a standout innings played by Dhruv Jurel, smashing an unbeaten hundred on day three to help India A make a comeback in the first unofficial Test.
In a display of grit and flair, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel smashed an unbeaten 113 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Batting at No. 6, the 24-year-old from Agra faced 132 balls, piercing the field with 10 boundaries and launching four sixes as India A reached 403 for 4 in 103 overs, trailing the visitors by 129 runs at the close of play on day three. With six wickets intact and an unbroken 181-run partnership for the fifth wicket alongside Devdutt Padikkal (86 not out off 178 balls), India A appear well-positioned to push for a draw on the final day.
Dhruv Jurel blended composure under pressure with an aggressive strokeplay
Apart from being a statistical milestone, Dhruv Jurel’s knock was a statement of intent. Coming in after captain Shreyas Iyer's dismissal for 8, Jurel steadied the innings with a counter-attacking approach that blended composure under pressure with aggressive strokeplay. He brought up his second first-class century in just 115 balls, a feat that evoked memories of his 90 against England two years ago.
Resuming Day 3 at 80 for 1, India A lost Abhimanyu Easwaran early, but Narayan Jagadeesan (64) and Sai Sudharsan (73) steadied the ship with a 100-run second-wicket stand. Jagadeesan anchored with a watchful knock, while Sudharsan, the fluent left-hander, raced to a half-century before edging Liam Scott to slip. Shreyas Iyer’s cheap dismissal to Corey Rocchiccioli left India A at 238 for 4, trailing Australia A’s 532 for 6 by 294 runs. Enter Dhruv Jurel, the vice-captain, who ignited a revival for his side. His aggressive fifty, plundering 47 runs off Rocchiccioli, shifted momentum.
