Cricket Australia selectors, on September 1, 2026, named the Australia A squads for the tour of India, where they will play four-day games and one-dayers as well. The four-day games will be played in Puducherry from September 22 onwards, while the one-dayers will be played from October 6.
The National Selection Panel selected batsmen Sam Konstas, Peter Handscomb, and Nathan McSweeney for the multi-day game amid suggestions for a reshuffling of Australia's Test batting lineup.
This tour will be extremely important for Australia, as they will be travelling to India early next year for a five-test series.
While Konstas and McSweeny have previously played against India at home in Tests, Peter Handscomb’s last international outing for Australia came in the 2023 Test tour of India. The 35-year-old right-hander has been keen to shake off his reputation as a "spin specialist", but his greatest chance to return to the Baggy Green is probably going to be when Australia visits India in four months.
Brendan Doggett and Jhye Richardson will be part of the Australia A squad, with off-spinner Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann being the spinners.
"We consider these tours an important part of performance and developing game styles in subcontinent conditions as part of our continued investment into the Australia A program. It's a strong representation of players who will be in contention to be part of the group we take to India next year or see as having potential for further opportunities into the future,” Chief selector George Bailey said as per Cricket Australia.
Coming to the one-day squad, India-born Nikhil Chaudhary, who played domestic cricket for Punjab but shifted to Australia, has been named for the three-match series.
Ollie Peake and Cooper Connolly have been picked in Australia's ODI squad; Jason Sangha has joined the A squad, while wicketkeeper Sam Harper will play his maiden Australia A matches after a stellar domestic season.
Australia A four-day squad:
Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott
Australia A one-day squad:
Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw
Australia A men's tour of India 2026:
1st four-day: Sep 22-25, Puducherry
2nd four-day: Sep 29-Oct 2, Puducherry
1st one-day: Oct 6, Puducherry
2nd one-day: Oct 9, Puducherry
3rd one-day: Oct 11, Puducherry
(PTI/CA inputs)
