Kushagra, Kotian fifties help India A fight back from 97 for 5

Australia A made early inroads, pinning India A down to 97 for 5, but Kushagra and Kotian repaired the innings and snatched the advantage from the visitors. The pair was eventually separated around 40 minutes before stumps, when Kushagra hobbled off the field, retiring hurt after scoring 82 off 160 balls.

Kotian and his Mumbai team-mate Shams Mulani, who is also a competent lower-order batter, pushed India A closer to 260 at stumps on the opening day.

Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli was Australia A's best bowler on the day, claiming the wickets of Sai Sudharsan (57), Shaik Rasheed (16) and Yash Rathod (1). On his second tour of India with the Australia A side in two years, Rocchiccioli triggered a top-order slide with a combination of turn, bounce, drift and subtle variations. After emerging as Australia A's highest wicket-taker during their previous trip to India in 2025, Rocchiccioli, 28, put his name forward for higher honours, ahead of next year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Later in the day, however, Kotian lined up Rocchiccioli and picked him away for 25 off 28 balls, including a mighty six over long-on. Kushagra also dealt with the spin of Rocchiccioli and Todd Murphy confidently, especially in the post-tea session.

"I sat behind Murph [Todd Murphy] a little bit, he bowled brilliantly," Rocchiccioli said after stumps on day one. "I was able to attack from one end. My typical bounce and spin factored in there and I just felt like I stuck to what I'm really good at and we bowled really well as a bowling cartel.

"If you miss, they [the opposition] can score quickly in these conditions. You don't have to miss by much for them to capitalise. You have to try to keep the stumps in play as much as you can. Not really looking at [Border-Gavaskar Trophy], just looking to win a game for Australia A here."

The pair struck up 45 runs in eight overs against a tiring attack after tea on a hot day, signalling a shift in control. Australia A captain Peter Handscomb also spent some time off the field in the post-tea session, with Nathan McSweeney taking charge of the team at the time. Kushagra and Kotian made Australia dig deep during their 138-run partnership for the sixth wicket, prompting them to use the part-time spin of Campbell Kellaway and Jason Sangha.

It was Sai Sudharsan who had set up India A's innings with a composed half-century after they had opted to bat. Having missed the recent Test series in Sri Lanka with a toe injury, Sudharsan had steadily built up his loads at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and also participated in Tamil Nadu's Ranji camp in Chennai before linking up with the India A team in Puducherry. He appeared untroubled while running between the wickets and stuck to his guns: playing most lengths from spinners off the back foot. However, when he looked good for more, Rocchiccioli coaxed a return catch via a leading edge and stopped him on 57.

When Kushagra was on 5, Doggett reversed one into his pads, and he was given out lbw. However, he overturned the decision with a successful review as ball-tracking indicated the ball would have missed leg stump. Kushagra proceeded to bring up his fifty off 103 balls. He then suffered from cramps and needed treatment multiple times on the field before ultimately retiring hurt in the post-tea session.

Kotian batted on with Mulani and remained unbeaten on 68 off 134 balls, hitting five boundaries.

The day had started more positively for Australia A when Victoria's Fergus O'Neill, who was featuring in his 50th first-class game, trapped opening batter Aman Mokhade lbw for 6 with an inswinger in the sixth over. Three overs later, Murphy extracted turn and bounce with the newish ball to have India A's new captain Devdutt Padikkal nicking off to slip for 3.

Rochhiccioli then found dip and turn to best Rasheed with a one-handed return catch. He pressed on to dismiss Rathod and Sai Sudharsan as well, but there was no more joy for Australia A after that.