KL Rahul to Open with Abhimanyu Easwaran in 2nd Unofficial Test Against Australia A

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India A will see a fresh opening pair in the second unofficial Test against Australia A, scheduled for November 7 at Melbourne Cricket Ground. KL Rahul, recently added to the squad, is set to open the innings alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, with regular opener and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to move down to the middle order.

Major Changes to the Line-Up

The Men’s Selection Committee has brought KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel into the India A squad for this series decider, according to an official BCCI release. Rahul’s return comes with the goal of testing his form as an opener, a role he could fill if captain Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth on November 22. Easwaran, who was initially slated as the third-choice opener, will now face competition from Rahul in this unexpected shake-up.

This adjustment reflects India’s search for dependable options at the top of the order. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal is the preferred opener, Rahul’s inclusion points to the management’s willingness to explore combinations ahead of a crucial international series.

Other Notable Inclusions and Omissions

Jurel’s selection provides him with an opportunity to showcase his skills, particularly as he replaces Ishan Kishan. Kishan and Baba Indrajith will miss this match, giving Jurel a shot at proving his readiness for higher stakes. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s recent struggles against New Zealand have left room for competition in the middle order, with Rishabh Pant likely to take over wicketkeeping duties if his fitness allows.

On the bowling front, attention will be on Nitish Kumar Reddy and Prasidh Krishna, who remain in contention for the main series. With the Test opener approaching, their performances could determine their standing for the Australia series.

India A Squad for 2nd Unofficial Test

• Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Devdutt Padikkal, Ricky Bhui, Baba Indrajith, Ishan Kishan (WK), Abishek Porel (WK), Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Navdeep Saini, Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK)

As the team gears up for the second Test, all eyes will be on how this revamped batting order performs against a competitive Australia A side, providing India A with a valuable assessment of its bench strength.

Read Original Content: KL Rahul to Open with Abhimanyu Easwaran in 2nd Unofficial Test Against Australia A

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