IND-A vs AUS-A, 3rd unofficial ODI: India A seeks consolation victory with individual points left to prove

File photo: Ruturaj Gaikwad will be keen to make a big score in the final match of this series. | Photo Credit: PTI

Australia A’s tour of India will conclude on Sunday with the final one-day against India A at the Cricket Association of Pondicherry Siechem Stadium in Puducherry.

Tim Paine’s side has improved continuously as the trip progressed. After a dispiriting loss in the first multi-day game, it was one wicket away from levelling the red-ball series. Strong bowling performances have helped the team dominate the white-ball games. It comes into the final game with a chance at a clean sweep.

The pacers stepped up on contrasting surfaces to skittle out an experienced batting pack twice. If India A hopes to get on the board in the one-day series, its top order must hold its fort in the first period of play.

“When you lose three wickets in the PowerPlay, you are already on the back foot and catching up,” India A skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad told broadcasters after the second game. “A lot of credit to them. They have adjusted to the conditions really well. They have batted long and hit the right lengths throughout,” he added.

Gaikwad himself has been short of runs since flying in after the ODI series against the West Indies, where he scored a half-century. His five-ball cameo in the second match was eye-catching, but he will need to capitalise on every opportunity he gets to make the India ODI World Cup squad as a spare batter.

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India A’s spin arsenal has been powerless through the middle overs. While the second one-dayer’s surface offered turn, its slow nature helped the visiting batters push it through the gaps easily. Gaikwad and the team management will need an aggressive option to operate with the old ball during this phase.

The batting combination from the second one-dayer is likely to remain the same. Kumar Kushagra was brought in to shore up the middle order in place of Prabhsimran Singh, pushing the top four all up one spot.

Australia A rested three players after the first game, and a couple more changes could be due ahead of the finale, with the series already in the bag.

The third one-day will begin at 9 a.m. IST.

Published on Oct 10, 2026

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