Kl Rahul's Form And Batting Number In Focus As India A Get The 'G' Experience

KL Rahul 's batting number and current form will be keenly watched by national selection committee as he gets ready to show his wares for India A against an Australia A line-up that will have seasoned Scott Boland in its ranks in second ufficial Test match starting here on Thursday.

Save Rahul, re isn't a single player in India A line-up who has featured in a match at iconic MCG, where India is scheduled to play Boxing Day Test from December 26.

Having been dropped midway through home Tests against New Zealand, Indian selectors in consultation with team manment decided to send Rahul and reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel for second 'A' Test before y link up with senior team in Perth on January 11.

With Boland, one of Australia's senior reserve pacers steaming in and hitting deck, it will be a stern test for likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad , B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, but Rahul will certainly get maximum traction because of his chances of playing in high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

During practice session at MCG, Rahul looked in good touch.

With Easwaran and skipper Gaikwad set to open, it is expected that Rahul will bat at . 5 or 6 in India A set-up, as that would be his batting position if he is selected in India playing XI at ay point during Test series.

re is a firm belief that when it comes to quality fast bowling in bouncy conditions, Rahul with hundreds at Lord's, Oval, Sydney, Centurion is way more equipped than domestic doyen Sarfaraz Khan, although latter after his 150 against New Zealand at Bengaluru will certainly be favourite to play at Optus Stadium from vember 22.

As far as India A team is concerned, re will be four changes in squad that played first 'ufficial Test' at Mackay, which visitors lost by seven wickets.

Rahul will come in place of Baba Indrajith, who scored 9 and 6 and didn't look comfortable at all against pace and bounce, which wasn't exactly 125 clicks.

Jurel will come in place of Ishan Kishan, who was at centre of a ball-change controversy at Mackay, although it was more about his terse remarks that left on-field umpires anyed.

Navdeep Saini, who also had a poor game will make way for left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, while off-spinner all-rounder Tanush Kotian will replace slow left-arm orthodox Manav Suthar in playing XI.

Two players who will miss out on game time are keeper-batter Abhishek Porel and burly middle-order willow wielder Ricky Bhui.