Padikkal fifty sets the stage before Australia A lose two early in chase of 363

Devdutt Padikkal scored 59 runs on his India A captaincy debut as India A set Australia A a target of 363 on day three in Puducherry. Australia A reached 55 for 2 at stumps, needing an additional 308 runs to win, after losing openers Campbell Kellaway for a duck and Sam Konstas for 20.

India A declined to enforce the follow-on despite holding a 163-run first-innings lead. Padikkal shared a 68-run second-wicket partnership with B Sai Sudharsan, while Kumar Kushagra added an unbeaten 46 to push India A to 199 in their second innings.