Puducherry, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Captain Devdutt Padikkal scored a fluent 59 and Kumar Kushagra remained unbeaten on 46 as India A set Australia A a target of 363 before reducing them to 55/2 at stumps on Day Three of the first four-day match here on Thursday.
Australia A need another 308 runs for victory, with captain Peter Handscomb and Nathan McSweeney, unbeaten on 23, at the crease.
India A, who secured a 163-run first-innings lead after dismissing Australia A for 171 on Wednesday, opted not to enforce the follow-on.
Resuming their second innings, India A faced a deteriorating Siechem Ground pitch that offered uneven bounce, with some deliveries staying ankle-high while others rose sharply from a length.
Padikkal and vice-captain B. Sai Sudharsan (39) added 68 runs for the second wicket after opener Aman Mokhade was dismissed for nine by Brendan Doggett.
Padikkal reached his half-century off 72 balls, using his feet effectively against off-spinner Todd Murphy and hitting Liam Scott for consecutive boundaries. His innings ended when a short delivery from Scott stayed low and trapped him leg before wicket. Scott also dismissed Yash Rathod for 12 to finish with 2-22.
Murphy was Australia A’s most successful bowler, claiming 4-48 by repeatedly targeting the rough and attacking the stumps. Doggett took 2-21, including the wicket of Kushagra after a short delivery struck the batter on the chin.
Kushagra resumed after receiving medical treatment and continued his aggressive approach, hitting two sixes off Murphy during his 59-ball 46. He was left without partners as India A were bowled out for 199.
Kushagra did not take the field as wicketkeeper later in the day, with substitute N Jagadeesan taking over behind the stumps.
Chasing 363, Australia A lost opener Campbell Kellaway for a duck in the second over when fast bowler Tushar Deshpande trapped him leg before wicket with a sharp inswinger.
Sam Konstas scored 20 and added 47 with McSweeney to briefly steady the chase, but off-spinner Tanush Kotian broke the partnership about 15 minutes before stumps by dismissing Konstas leg before wicket.
With the pitch developing cracks and producing increasingly unpredictable bounce, Kotian and Shams Mulani are expected to play a key role on the final day as India A push for victory.
Brief scores: India A 334 & 199 (Devdutt Padikkal 59, Kumar Kushagra 46 not out; Todd Murphy 4-48, Brendan Doggett 2-21) lead Australia A 171 & 55/2 (Nathan McSweeney 23 not out; Tushar Deshpande 1-5, Tanush Kotian 1-8) by 308 runs.
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