Galle: Rising stars Gurnoor Brar and Manav Suthar are expected to get a look-in in the India ‘A’ playing eleven when they take on Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the second unofficial Test starting here on Thursday.
The opening four-day clash ended in a draw, highlighted by brilliant centuries from opener Sai Sudharsan and skipper Dhruv Jurel. Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi also marked his India ‘A’ debut in style, walking away with a commendable match-haul of five wickets, including a four-wicket burst in the first innings.
Since this is an exposure tour designed to give every squad member an opportunity, the team management, headed by Hrishikesh Kanitkar, is highly likely to ring in a few tactical changes to optimize playing time.
Consequently, one can expect Brar-who recently made an impressive ODI debut against Afghanistan-to be drafted into the lineup. The senior team management is keen to develop its second line of pacers ahead of the upcoming tour of New Zealand and the home assignment against Australia early next year. If Gurnoor features, fellow pacer Yash Thakur might be rested.
Similarly, left-arm spinner Suthar, who recently made his senior Test debut against Afghanistan with an emphatic 10-wicket haul before a successful county stint with Warwickshire, is tipped to headline the slow-bowling unit. In that scenario, left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey will make way.
The other two squad members awaiting opportunities are opener Aman Mokhade and leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari. To accommodate Ansari, the team management would need to rest off-spinner Saransh Jain, while Mokhade could potentially replace Ayush Pandey, who missed out on half-centuries in both innings of the opener.
However, Pandey might still find a place in the XI if Sai Sudharsan is deemed unfit. The star opener retired hurt during India ‘A’s second innings and sat out the remainder of the match, including the fielding sessions.