Kushagra, Kotian rescue India A to 257/5 on Day 1 vs Australia A
Synopsis
India A stared down a collapse at 97/5 before Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian combined for a 138-run rescue act in Puducherry. Their partnership transformed a potentially disastrous day into a competitive 257/5 — and Kotian is still at the crease heading into Day 2.
Key Takeaways
India A finished Day 1 on 257/5 in 89 overs against Australia A in Puducherry on 22 September 2026 .
Kumar Kushagra top-scored with 82 off 160 balls (10 fours) before retiring hurt at 235/5 .
Tanush Kotian remained unbeaten on 68 off 134 balls (4 fours, 1 six) at stumps.
The two shared a match-turning 138-run stand after India A slumped to 97/5 .
Corey Rocchiccioli was Australia A's best bowler with 3 for 72 ; Sai Sudharsan top-scored before his dismissal with 57 .
Shams Mulani (10*) kept Kotian company to see India A safely through to stumps.
Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian stitched together a match-defining 138-run sixth-wicket stand to haul India A from the depths of 97/5 to a respectable 257/5 at stumps on Day 1 of the India A vs Australia A Test in Puducherry on 22 September 2026. The recovery, spanning the final two sessions, transformed what had looked like a damaging first day into a competitive position for the hosts.
Difficult Start for India A
India A, who elected to bat, were put under immediate pressure by Australia A's new-ball attack. Fergus O'Neill struck with the very first ball of the day, a sharp nip-backer that sent Aman Mokhade back to the pavilion LBW for 6. Todd Murphy then removed Devdutt Padikkal for just 3, reducing India A to 20/2 early in the morning session.
A third-wicket stand between Sai Sudharsan and Shaik Rasheed steadied the ship briefly, adding 58 runs. Rasheed showed determination for his 16 off 57 balls before Corey Rocchiccioli pouched a stunning return catch to end the partnership. India A reached lunch at 78/3, with Sudharsan unbeaten on 45.
Rocchiccioli Puts India A in Trouble
The afternoon session belonged to Rocchiccioli, who emerged as the dominant threat. He dismissed Yash Rathod for just 1 and then landed the crucial blow, removing Sai Sudharsan for 57 — a leading edge that Rocchiccioli himself completed with a diving catch. India A were left tottering at 97/5, with Australia A firmly in the ascendancy.
Notably, Sudharsan's dismissal came just before a rain interruption, which briefly halted play. Rocchiccioli, O'Neill, and Murphy had one wicket each at that stage, with Rocchiccioli holding three in all by tea as India A steadied to 151/5.
Kushagra and Kotian Turn the Match
The final session was India A's story. Kushagra and Kotian defied the turning ball with disciplined footwork, punished the bad deliveries, and systematically took India A from 97/5 to beyond 200. Their 138-run partnership shifted the momentum decisively.
Kushagra compiled an outstanding 82 off 160 balls, including 10 fours, before departing with the score at 235/5 — listed as retired hurt. Kotian was equally composed, contributing 68 off 134 balls with four fours and a six, and remained unbeaten at stumps. Shams Mulani, who came to the crease in the final stages, held firm alongside Kotian to ensure India A closed without further loss.
Day 1 Scorecard Snapshot
India A finished on 257/5 in 89 overs, with Kotian (68*) and Mulani (10*) at the crease. Rocchiccioli was Australia A's pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 72. O'Neill and Murphy each claimed one wicket. Brief scores: India A 257/5 in 89 overs (Sudharsan 57, Kushagra 82 retd hurt, Kotian 68*; Rocchiccioli 3-72) against Australia A.
Day 2 will test whether Kotian can push India A beyond 300 and give the hosts' bowlers a total worth defending.
Point of View
Padikkal, Rasheed, and Rathod contributed a combined 26 runs, leaving Sudharsan and then a lower-middle-order pair to do the heavy lifting. Kushagra and Kotian's stand was commendable, but it papers over a structural fragility that a full Australia attack — not the A-side — would expose ruthlessly. If this India A unit is meant to serve as a pipeline to the Test side, the selectors will want to see the top order convert tomorrow, not just the sixth-wicket pair.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was India A's Day 1 score against Australia A in Puducherry?
India A closed Day 1 on 257/5 in 89 overs against Australia A in Puducherry on 22 September 2026. Tanush Kotian (68*) and Shams Mulani (10*) were unbeaten at stumps.
How did Kumar Kushagra perform on Day 1?
Kumar Kushagra scored 82 off 160 balls, hitting 10 fours, before being dismissed — listed as retired hurt — with the score at 235/5. He was the highest individual scorer of the day.
What was the Kushagra-Kotian partnership worth?
Kushagra and Kotian put on 138 runs together for the sixth wicket, rescuing India A from a precarious 97/5. Their stand spanned the final two sessions and completely changed the complexion of the innings.
Who was Australia A's best bowler on Day 1?
Corey Rocchiccioli was Australia A's standout performer, taking 3 wickets for 72 runs. His scalps included the key wickets of Yash Rathod and Sai Sudharsan, and he also took a stunning return catch to dismiss Shaik Rasheed.
What is the significance of the India A vs Australia A Test match?
The India A vs Australia A Test series serves as a key preparatory platform for fringe international players eyeing a place in the senior Test side. The match in Puducherry provides selectors a close look at next-in-line talent ahead of upcoming bilateral series.
