India A vs Australia A 1st unofficial Test Day 1 Highlights: India A 257/5; Kotian, Kushagra hit fifties

That’s stumps on day one of the first unofficial Test, with India A ending the day on 257 for five. Tanush Kotian is unbeaten on 68, while Kumar Kushagra, who retired hurt on 82, can resume his innings tomorrow.

For Australia A, Corey Rocchiccioli was the pick of the bowlers with three for 72. The visitors will feel they let the advantage slip after reducing India A to 97 for five, but it will be a new day tomorrow, and Australia A will look for early breakthroughs.

India A, meanwhile, will look to Kotian and, if fit, Kushagra to turn a good position into something substantial.

See you all tomorrow.

Will the India A batters now shut up shop and play for stumps, or will Kotian look to free his arms and pick up a few runs? The last few overs have been a steady diet of singles and dot balls, suggesting that the Indian batters have decided against taking any undue risks.

Just a quick addition to our last update: New ball has been taken in the 85th over.

India A looked to be in serious trouble at 97 for five after Sai Sudharsan fell for 57. But Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian have given the host something to work with, putting together an unbeaten 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Australia A remains in the ascendancy, but India A has shown some fight. Can Kushagra and Kotian carry this recovery further? We’ll find out soon. Stay tuned.

We have ample evidence by now of ball turning. Australia will probably again get in Murphy for an extended 7-8 over spell. But for India A, it’s possibly the best possible pair at crease. Rathod is no stranger to these kind situations, having rescued Vidarbha on countless occasions. He is pretty solid against spin too. Sudharsan looks well set and should look to get a big score here.

Sheik Rasheed has been compact in defence and looked comfortable despite not getting many runs. He has barely played a false shot so far, notes our man on the ground, Abhishek.

Meanwhile, after a healthy dose of off-spin from both ends through Corey Rocchiccioli and Todd Murphy, Brendan Doggett comes on for some medium pace, replacing Murphy. Change of ends for Rocchiccioli basically. Murphy bowled eight in a row. Australia would love another breakthrough before lunch.

The early dismissals have once again brought Sai Sudharsan into focus. With his team in choppy waters, the opportunity is there for the left-hander to steady the innings and, in the process, strengthen his case for a return to the Test side.

It’s been a tough last month or so for the TN batter. Just when the timing seemed right for his Test comeback, a toe stress fracture complicated matters.

Sudharsan had initially been picked for the Sri Lanka series, subject to fitness clearance, but he could not recover in time. His absence opened the door for Devdutt Padikkal, who seized the opportunity and made the most of his chance.

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