Dubey, Thakur in India ‘A’ team

 

 

 

VIDARBHA bowlers Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur have been included in the India ‘A’ squad which will play against visiting South Africa ‘A’ in two four-day match series. The unofficial Test series will be played at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Spinner Dubey has been in the selectors radar since his Ranji Trophy heroics where he took a record 69 wickets last season. He was also part of the India ‘A’ squad which toured England and also played against the visiting Australia ‘A’ team. This will be Dubey’s third stint with the India ‘A’ team which will be led by a fit-again wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. For pacer Yash Thakur, this will be his second assignment with the India ‘A’ team. He was impressive in the unofficial Test against Australia ‘A’.

 

While Dubey was named for both the matches, Thakur will be seen in action in the first match. The teams will be led by Pant who will be making a comeback after a foot injury. Pant had injured his foot while batting in the fourth Test at Manchester in July and subsequently was not part of the Asia Cup squad. He was also not part of the two-Test home series against the West Indies.He was hit on his right toe by a Chris Woakes delivery but came out to bat heroically, scoring a half century albeit in a losing cause. Some other prominent names that will feature during the course of the two four-day games include KL Rahul, vice-captain Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, stumper Dhruv Jurel, pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna among others.

 

South Africa ‘A’ team, to be captained by batter Marques Ackerman, will feature senior team captain Temba Bavuma, who would be returning after recuperating from a calf injury. India ‘A’ squad for the 1st four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain. India ‘A’ squad for the 2nd four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.