Anshul Kamboj’s debut yielded 82 runs in nine overs, a stark reminder that India A’s pace unit still have a long way to go before the Australia A clash.
But the 82‑run concession was just the tip of the iceberg; Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi also ran out expensive, each giving away 84 runs in their brief spells.
Lakshmipathy Balaji, the India A coach, insists patience and experience are the real game‑changers. “Bumrah became world‑class through time, effort and experience,” he said, noting that youngsters like Anshul and Gurnoor need time to absorb the learning curve.
The three‑match one‑day series in Puducherry will pit India A’s emerging pacers against the Australian A side, a test that mirrors the conditions they will face on the World Cup opening day on October 7.
With the 2027 World Cup looming, a strong showing here could fast‑track the young bowlers into India’s senior ranks, while a failure to tighten will leave doubts about the pace pipeline.
Next up: the final match of the series on October 9, where a single over could decide the fate of the India A bowling unit.