Team India has plenty at stake in the ODI and Test formats over the next year, with the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final and ODI World Cup edging closer by the day. While their eyes may be on the ultimate prize, they must take baby steps with the A-series against Australia.
India A will take on Australia A in two 4-day red-ball games, followed by three 50-over matches in Puducherry from September 22 to October 11. The India A squads for the red-ball and 50-over matches feature several Team India players, including regulars and fringe options.
While some are looking to return to the senior side, others hope to stave off competition and strengthen their place in the national setup.
With a massive 14 months coming up for Indian cricket, let us look at five Team India players to keep an eye on during the India A matches against Australia A.
#1 Hardik Pandya
Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya is a no-brainer at the top of the list of Indian players to watch out for during the A-series against Australia. The 32-year-old has not played a competitive match since the 2026 IPL season, which concluded in May.
Hardik has been dealing with recurring injuries, ranging from back spasms to quadriceps to lower leg niggles. The veteran has not been picked for India’s upcoming home white-ball series against the West Indies.
Instead, Hardik will look to prove his fitness, especially his ability to bowl extended spells, in the three 50-over matches against Australia A. Recently, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir said the seasoned all-rounder was still not fit enough to bowl 10 overs.
Thus, Hardik must showcase bowling fitness in the three white-ball A games against Australia.
#2 Sai Sudharsan
The talented Sai Sudharsan has seen his red-ball world turn upside down in a matter of weeks. The southpaw was slowly but surely settling into his No.3 role in India’s Test side, with an impressive 81 in the one-off home Test against Afghanistan in June.
However, after scoring centuries in consecutive red-ball games against Sri Lanka A, Sai missed the subsequent two-Test series against Sri Lanka with a toe stress fracture.
His absence paved the way for Devdutt Padikkal to bat at No.3 in both Tests against Sri Lanka. The elegant left-hander grabbed the opportunity, scoring centuries in both Tests and cementing his spot at No.3 in the Indian Test side.
As a result, Sai must score big in the two red-ball matches against Australia A to remain in contention for the one-drop role in India’s Test lineup.
#3 Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad is one of many fringe Indian players looking to break into the 2027 ODI World Cup squad. The competition for places in the Indian ODI squad has meant Gaikwad has had to wait for his rare opportunities to shine.
The 29-year-old is one of the few Indian ODI batters who can open and play in the middle-order. Gaikwad proved his ability to adapt to the No.4 position with a brilliant 105 off 83 deliveries in his latest ODI innings for India against South Africa last December.
However, the right-hander has not found a place in the Indian ODI side until his selection for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies. Even if Gaikwad delivers a strong performance against the West Indies, it is non-negotiable for Gaikwad to score big runs in the three Australia A matches to retain any hopes of being in the World Cup squad next year.
#4 Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal has enjoyed a dream 2026 season, with his IPL heroics and the recent Test series in Sri Lanka. The left-hander has scored runs for fun across all levels and has likely cemented his place in India’s Test side.
Yet, the left-hander will understand how quickly things can change in Indian cricket, given the battle for spots among the batters. If it took two matches against Sri Lanka for Padikkal to turn the tables on Sai Sudharsan, the same could happen in reverse if the duo have contrasting performances in the red-ball games against Australia A.
Thus, Padikkal must follow up on his stellar showing in Sri Lanka with a solid batting display in the two Australia A matches.
Furthermore, he is also one of the few Indian players in the squad for the 50-over and red-ball A sides for the Australian series. Playing deputy to Gaikwad for the three 50-over games, Padikkal could also stake a claim for a miraculous breakthrough in the Indian ODI side.
#5 Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar’s fortunes have fluctuated wildly from domestic to international cricket over the past two years. Despite captaining Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to back-to-back IPL titles and making telling contributions in domestic cricket, finding a place in the Indian sides across formats remains as distant as ever.
However, India have routinely selected players for one format based on performances in another. Patidar must make the 50-over matches against Australia A count to remain in contention for a miraculous selection in any of the three formats.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
