Published: Feb 01, 2017, 12:06 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 06, 2017, 11:57 AM (IST)
Hardik Pandya has been appointed as captain to lead India A in a three-day warm-up match against Australia at Brabourne Stadium from February 16 to 18. Pandya is not the only surprising element in the squad: the list includes several promising talented youngsters who did well in the last Ranji Trophy edition. Priyank Panchal, the top run-getter of the 2016-17 Ranji season, has been picked in the side, as has been G Rahul Singh of Services. Rahul made 945 runs in his debut Ranji season at 73. Mumbai’s 22-year old Akhil Herwadkar and highly rated Shreyas Iyer finally earned his reward for consistency.
Jharkhand wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan is also in the side, while Rishabh Pant has been retained in the team as batsman, though he may keep wickets as well. With 697 runs at 54 in the previous season, Baba Indrajith has been selected also named in the squad. From 10 matches in the latest Ranji season, Indrajith scored 697 runs at 54.
Ankit Bawne of Maharashtra, who scored unbeaten 351 against Delhi and finished with an aggregate of 687, has also been rewarded. Other names include Bengal veteran Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda, who scalped 39 wickets at 20 this season; Delhi seamer Navdeep Saini, who is highly spoken in the state cricket circuit; and Hyderabad pacer Mohammad Siraj, who played for Rest of India in the recently-concluded Irani Cup.
The slow bowlers will be led by Jharkhand left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, the highest wicket-taker of this Ranji season. Nadeem will be supported by off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham and Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav.
India A squad for tour match vs Australia in Mumbai: Hardik Pandya (c), Akhil Herwadkar, Priyank Kirit Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Ankit Bawne, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shahbaz Nadeem, Krishnappa Gowtham, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Ashok Dinda, Mohammed Siraj, Rahul Singh, Baba Indrajith.
