India A took a commanding grip on the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Puducherry, with Kumar Kushagra battling through cramps to complete his century and India A's bowlers responding by skittling Australia A for 171 to close Day Two with a 163-run first-innings lead.
Resuming from an overnight 257 for 5, Kumar Kushagra — who had retired hurt on 82 the previous day due to cramps — returned to the crease and pushed on to 113 off 240 balls, his seventh first-class century. He found support from Tanush Kotian, who made 69, as India A were eventually bowled out for 334. Corey Rocchiccioli was the pick of the Australia A attack with 4 for 95, and Todd Murphy added three wickets.
Australia A's innings never found any stability in response. Jason Sangha top-scored with 46, but with wickets falling regularly at the other end, the tourists were bowled out for just 171 in 55.3 overs. Shams Mulani led the attack with 4 for 67, backed by two wickets apiece from Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian, whose fifty with the bat and wickets with the ball made him the standout all-round performer of the day.
A 163-run first-innings lead hands India A total control of a match being used as a direct selection audition ahead of India's home season. For Kushagra, completing a hundred on the back of the previous day's cramps underlines both his form and his fitness to bat through discomfort — a datapoint selectors watching this fixture will note alongside the runs themselves. Mulani's four-for adds to a strong domestic season with the ball, keeping his name in the frame for India's spin-bowling depth chart.
With the lead already substantial, the remaining two days will determine how India A look to extend it before turning the game into a declaration and a run-chase for Australia A. The four-day match, the first of two unofficial Tests between the sides, runs through September 25 at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground.
Live scores from the series are available on SportGod's live matches page, with more India cricket coverage on SportGod's blog. Read the Day One report for how India A recovered from an early collapse to post 334.
Scorecard figures are verified against same-day match reporting, current as of September 24, 2026.
Try Sport God AI live
Live scores, AI predictions, and fantasy — free during IPL 2026.