Padikkal's 59 and Kushagra's 46 put India A 308 ahead; Australia A 55/2 at stumps
Synopsis
Devdutt Padikkal's composed 59 and Kumar Kushagra's gutsy unbeaten 46 — completed after taking a blow to the chin — set up a 308-run target for Australia A in Puducherry. With the pitch cracking and Kotian and Mulani ready to exploit it on Day Four, India A look firm favourites to clinch the first four-day match.
Key Takeaways
India A lead Australia A by 308 runs at stumps on Day Three of the first four-day match in Puducherry .
Captain Devdutt Padikkal scored 59 and Kumar Kushagra made an unbeaten 46 off 59 balls, hitting two sixes despite a blow to the chin.
Todd Murphy was Australia A's best bowler, finishing with 4 for 48 ; Liam Scott took 2 for 22 .
Australia A are 55 for 2 chasing 363 , with Nathan McSweeney (23 not out) and Peter Handscomb at the crease.
Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian each claimed one wicket in the evening session; Shams Mulani and Kotian are expected to be key on Day Four.
Jagadeesan kept wicket after Kushagra did not take the field due to the chin injury.
Devdutt Padikkal struck a fluent 59 and Kumar Kushagra contributed an aggressive unbeaten 46 to power India A to 199 in their second innings, before their bowlers reduced Australia A to 55 for 2 at stumps on Day Three of the first four-day match at Puducherry on 24 September 2026. The visitors need another 308 runs to win, with captain Peter Handscomb and Nathan McSweeney (23 not out) at the crease heading into the final day.
India A Second Innings: Padikkal and Sudharsan Consolidate
India A resumed their second innings on a Siechem Ground pitch that had begun offering uneven and increasingly unpredictable bounce — deliveries either shooting low at ankle height or rearing sharply from a length. Despite those difficult conditions, Padikkal and his deputy B. Sai Sudharsan (39) stitched together a 68-run second-wicket stand to stabilise the innings after opener Aman Mokhade (9) was dismissed early by Brendan Doggett.
Padikkal brought up his half-century off 72 balls, using his feet effectively against off-spinner Todd Murphy and dispatching Liam Scott for back-to-back boundaries. His innings ended when a short delivery from Scott kept dangerously low and trapped him LBW. Scott also removed Yash Rathod (12) to finish with figures of 2 for 22.
Kushagra Fights On Despite Blow to the Chin
Murphy proved Australia A's most effective bowler, claiming 4 for 48 by relentlessly targeting the rough and attacking the stumps. Doggett added 2 for 21, including a short ball that struck Kushagra on the chin. The wicketkeeper-batter, however, resumed aggressively after medical treatment, hammering two sixes off Murphy in his 59-ball 46 before running out of partners as India A were bowled out for 199.
Notably, Kushagra did not take the field for wicketkeeping duties later in the evening, with substitute N. Jagadeesan donning the gloves in his absence.
India A Bowlers Strike at the Close
Chasing 363, Australia A suffered an early setback when fast bowler Tushar Deshpande trapped opener Campbell Kellaway LBW for a duck in just the second over with a sharp inswinger. Sam Konstas (20) and McSweeney then added 47 runs for the second wicket to steady the chase briefly. Off-spinner Tanush Kotian broke that stand roughly 15 minutes before stumps, trapping Konstas LBW to leave Australia A under pressure at 55 for 2.
What to Expect on Day Four
With the pitch cracking up and delivering ever more unpredictable turn and bounce, spinners Kotian and Shams Mulani are expected to be the chief architects of any India A victory on the final day. India A, who had built a commanding 163-run first-innings lead after bundling out Australia A for 171 on Day Two, chose not to enforce the follow-on — a decision that appears well-calculated given the deteriorating surface. The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion.
Brief Scores: India A 334 & 199 (Devdutt Padikkal 59, Kumar Kushagra 46 not out; Todd Murphy 4-48, Brendan Doggett 2-21) lead Australia A 171 & 55/2 (Nathan McSweeney 23 not out; Tushar Deshpande 1-5, Tanush Kotian 1-8) by 308 runs.
Point of View
And spinning out a target on Day Four against an under-pressure Australia A side is arguably more potent than a tired chase on a flat surface. Kushagra's refusal to retire after a chin blow is the kind of leadership-by-example that India A selections are increasingly rewarding. The real subplot, though, is the Kotian-Mulani spin partnership: if they can exploit the rough as effectively as Murphy did against the home side, this match could finish well before tea. The management's handling of Kushagra's fitness overnight will also be worth watching ahead of the next match in the series.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current match situation in India A vs Australia A Day Three?
At stumps on Day Three in Puducherry, India A lead Australia A by 308 runs. Australia A are 55 for 2 in their second innings chasing a target of 363, with Nathan McSweeney (23 not out) and Peter Handscomb at the crease.
How did Devdutt Padikkal perform in India A's second innings?
Captain Devdutt Padikkal scored a fluent 59 off 72 balls, bringing up his half-century with confident footwork against off-spinner Todd Murphy. He was eventually dismissed LBW by Liam Scott, who bowled a short delivery that kept low.
What happened to Kumar Kushagra during the match?
Kumar Kushagra was struck on the chin by a short ball from Brendan Doggett but resumed after medical treatment and went on to make an unbeaten 46 off 59 balls, hitting two sixes off Murphy. He did not keep wicket later in the day, with substitute N. Jagadeesan taking the gloves.
Who were the top bowlers for Australia A in India A's second innings?
Todd Murphy was Australia A's most successful bowler with 4 for 48, relentlessly targeting the rough. Liam Scott took 2 for 22 and Brendan Doggett claimed 2 for 21.
What can India A fans expect on Day Four?
With the pitch cracking and offering unpredictable bounce, spinners Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani are expected to lead India A's push for victory. Australia A still need 308 runs with only 8 wickets in hand, making India A strong favourites to win the first four-day match.
