Sai Sudharsan returns to open for India A against Australia A in four-day game

A fit-again Sai Sudharsan will open the innings for India A when they take on Australia A in the first four-day first-class game beginning Tuesday. Sudharsan, who serves as vice-captain of the India A side, is targeting the reserve opener's slot for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Sudharsan had previously batted at No. 3 in his seven Test appearances for India. He shifted to the opening position during India A's tour of Sri Lanka, where he scored 132 and 168 in the two first-class matches against

Sri Lanka A. He subsequently missed the Test series after sustaining a fractured foot that required six weeks of rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The Australia A squad touring India includes several Test team hopefuls. Openers Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney, spinner Todd Murphy and pacer Jhye Richardson are all part of the visiting group. This is the second time in 12 months that an Australia A team has toured India in preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the squad also features veteran batter Peter Handscomb and Ashes-winning quick Brendan Doggett.

Why is the reserve opener's spot so keenly contested?

The Indian Test squad is looking to fill a few specific positions ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is scheduled between the last week of January and the first week of March. A third opener and a quality reserve spinner are among the primary requirements for that five-Test series, where the risk of injury or fitness-related breakdown remains a real concern.

Devdutt Padikkal, who is captaining the India A side, has cemented his place in the Test squad as a number three batter after scoring two hundreds in the last series in Sri Lanka. With that position settled, Sudharsan is keen to build on his Sri Lanka A performances and press his claim as the reserve opener. The other contender for that slot is Aman Mokhade, who was unable to convert his starts during the Sri Lanka tour.

The series also serves a second purpose: identifying players for India A's three-Test tour of New Zealand. Selectors, therefore, have a dual brief as they assess performances across the four-day games.

What is Australia A's objective and who are the key players to watch?

Australia A coach Tim Paine highlighted the value of this tour for several members of his squad. Peter Handscomb, a veteran batter known for his ability against spin, is part of the group as Australia look at options ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"Pete (Handscomb) is one of the best players of spin in Australia. It is a great thing for him, it shows even at his age he is in contention. Acclimatising to these conditions will be good for him if and when he does come back," Paine was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

Paine also spoke about the importance of the tour for the pace bowlers in the squad.

"Doggett and Richardson, just being exposed to red ball cricket in India, the conditions and the heat, and being able to bowl in it. There are a lot of different things, like the lengths that you have to bowl, so for them to be being able to come here and experience it," the former Australia captain added.

On the India A side, the selection panel will also be closely monitoring off-spinner Tanush Kotian of Mumbai. Saransh Jain, who played a Test in Sri Lanka, did not impress sufficiently, and interim head of the selection committee Pragyan Ojha and his colleagues are expected to give Kotian a thorough look as they search for a quality reserve spinner.

India A squad:

Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (WK), Nachiket Bhute, Tripurana Vijay.

Australia A squad:

Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott.