The coastal city of Puducherry will host a high-profile India A v Australia A multi-format series at the CAP-Siechem Stadium, organisers announced, as the union territory prepares to stage its first full A-team assignment since the Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) gained full membership of the BCCI in 2019.
Schedule and formats
The tour comprises two unofficial four-day red-ball matches followed by three 50-over encounters. The fixtures are scheduled as follows:
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 22–25 September | Unofficial Test 1 (four days) |
| 29 September–2 October | Unofficial Test 2 (four days) |
| 6 October | 1st One‑day match (50 overs) |
| 9 October | 2nd One‑day match (50 overs) |
| 11 October | 3rd One‑day match (50 overs) |
Squads and notable inclusions
Both sides arrived in Puducherry and trained at the ground on Saturday ahead of the opening match. The touring Australia A lists several players with international or top-level domestic experience: Peter Handscomb, Ashes-winning pacer Brendan Doggett and Jhye Richardson headline the 15-man group for the red-ball portion. For the 50-over leg, Australia A’s plans include power in Mahli Beardman and pace bowling option Spencer Johnson.
India A’s line-up blends promising young batters and seam options. Test-format batters and senior domestic run-makers Devdutt Padikkal (captain) and Sai Sudharsan—recently recovering from a right-toe injury—figure in both formats. The red-ball bowling contingent includes players with limited international exposure such as Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj. The squad will also see Tripurana Vijay brought in as a replacement for the injured Vijaykumar Vyshak.
One of the higher-profile names for the white-ball leg is all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been out of action since the IPL 2026 season owing to fitness concerns. His participation in the 50-over matches is conditional on fitness clearance, organisers said.
Local significance and preparations
CAP has previously hosted under-19 internationals since becoming a full BCCI member in 2019, but the upcoming series marks the first time the association will stage a complete A-team assignment involving multi-day games and a one-day series. The matches are expected to bring increased attention to Puducherry as a cricketing venue and attract domestic and visiting supporters to the CAP-Siechem complex.
India A prepared for the tour with a camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, while both India A and Australia A used practice time at the Puducherry ground on Saturday. Organisers have not released information about ticketing or spectator capacity for the fixtures; local authorities and the association are likely to provide details closer to the match dates.
What to watch
- Red-ball contests: Expect India A’s seam attack, including Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj, to be tested by experienced Australian batters such as Handscomb and the pace of Richardson.
- White-ball impact: If declared fit, Hardik Pandya’s inclusion will alter India A’s balance for the one-day games, adding seam-bowling depth and finishing ability.
- Player returns: Watch Sai Sudharsan’s readjustment to competitive cricket after his toe issue and Tripurana Vijay’s role as a replacement bowler.
The series provides India’s selectors with a platform to evaluate players returning from injury and those pushing for national selection, while Australia A will use the assignment to blood seam options and test middle-order depth ahead of forthcoming international commitments.
Local cricket administrators said staging the series is an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of facilities in Puducherry and to deliver high-level competitive cricket to regional fans. Exact arrangements for spectator attendance, broadcast partners and practice schedules are expected to be shared by the Cricket Association of Pondicherry and match organisers in the coming days.
