India A vs Australia A 2nd Test: THIS Rajasthan Royals star stands tall amid Indian ruins, KL Rahul falls cheaply again, WATCH video

India A batters sorry tale against Australia A continued on Day 1 of their 2nd unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday (November 7). Only one batter stood tall amid the ruins – Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who was drafted into the side along with KL Rahul and replaced Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.

Jurel and Rahul have been added to the India A squad for the second match to give them much-needed training for the upcoming India vs Australia five-Test match series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) which gets underway on November 22 in Perth. The young Royals batter, who was retained for Rs 14 crore – a massive hike from his previous salary of Rs 20 lakh, was the only batter who looked comfortable in the middle in tough conditions at the MCG against a quality Australia A attack featuring Scott Boland and Michael Neser.

The 23-year-old from Agra was batting on 75 off 158 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours even as India A slipped to 141 for 8 in 47 overs. He was finally dismissed for 80 off 186 balls by Australia A skipper Nathan McSweeney as India A were bundled out 161 in 57.1 overs after Tea on opening day.

Michael Neser was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4/27 while Beau Webster scalped 3/19. Jurel carried the India A batting on his shoulders after they were reduced t 11 for 4 with Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan falling for ducks and KL Rahul scoring only 4.

He completed his fifty with a six over fine-leg off Nathan McAndrew off 118 balls and then added another six off Scott Boland as India A kept losing wickets with Tanush Kotian falling for duck and Khaleel Ahmed out for 1.

WATCH Dhruv Jurel complete his fifty off Nathan McAndrew HERE…

 

Under pressure innings while playing in australia for the first time
DHRUV JUREL REMEMBER THE NAME pic.twitter.com/H8NmXCrMlT

— Rahul (@calmmLucario) November 7, 2024

Earlier, KL Rahul’s hopes of a Test recall as an opener took a major blow as he was dismissed for just 4 by Boland. Michael Neser rocked the India A batting early, dismissing Easwaran and Sudharsan for ducks in the opening over of the game.

After being sent in on a green and bouncy MCG track, India slumped to 65 for 5 at lunch on Day 1 of their four-day game with Neser claiming 4/16 from eight overs including a double-wicket maiden in the opening over of the day.

Rahul opened the batting but watched from the non-striker’s as Neser had India Test hopeful Abhimanyu Easwaran caught in the gully. Next ball, Sai Sudharsan, fresh off a century in Mackay, was caught at second slip in a similar manner.

Rahul then took strike to another of Australia’s backup Test quicks Scott Boland. Rahul got off the mark with a lovely on-drive first ball but three balls later Boland pulled the length back a touch to catch the edge and send Rahul on his way for four.

Neser then bowled a jaffer of a delivery to India A captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was dismissed for 4 as well as India A slipped to 11 for 4 in 2.4 overs. In the 1st unofficial Test, India A had been bowled out for 107 but did much better in the 2nd innings in Mackay by scoring 312.