Last Updated:
Sitanshu Kotak will fly to Australia with the India A side as the team has been asked to assemble on Monday in Mumbai.
Former cricketer Sitanshu Kotak is likely to accompany the India A team as head coach for their upcoming Australia tour. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side is scheduled to play two First-class games Down Under, in Mackay and Melbourne respectively, and then take part in a three-day intra-squad game against Rohit Sharma’s Team India in Perth.
According to the Times of India, Kotak will fly to Australia with the India A side that has been asked to assemble on Monday in Mumbai. The squad is packed with India’s consistent domestic players. Bengal batter Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named the vice-captain and is emerging as a strong contender for the reserve opener slot, if Rohit Sharma misses the opening Test.
Meanwhile, it has also been learned that the Indian selectors are expected to name the squad for the Test series Down Under by the end of October. Speculation is rife about India naming a jumbo squad for the tour, which could mean the return of the vastly experienced Cheteshwar Pujara back into the national reckoning.
According to news agency PTI, the India Test squad for the Australia tour could be unveiled on 28 October.
Pujara last played for India in the final of the 2023 ICC World Test Championship, following which he was dropped, and reports claimed that the selectors were looking ahead to the future. The team could be tempted to give the veteran another look, given his past performances in Australia.
There are several reports suggesting that India could consider including fast-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, despite his recent form. Thakur made a significant impact on the previous tour when India was weakened by multiple player injuries throughout the series.
All-rounder Nitish Reddy, who impressed during a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, is also being considered. He has been selected for the India A squad for the upcoming shadow tour of Australia.
The question still looms over the availability of Mohammad Shami, who recently said he is pain-free while revealing his wish to play a Ranji Trophy match to assess his match fitness before taking the flight to Australia.