K L Rahul's form in focus as India A get the 'G' experience

Melbourne: K L Rahul's batting number and current form will be keenly watched by the national selection committee as he gets ready to show his wares for India A against an Australia A line-up that will have seasoned Scott Boland in its ranks in the second unofficial Test match starting here on Thursday.

Save Rahul, there isn't a single player in the India A line-up who has featured in a match at the iconic MCG, where India is scheduled to play the Boxing Day Test from December 26.

Having been dropped midway through the home Tests against New Zealand, the Indian selectors in consultation with the team management decided to send Rahul and reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel for the second 'A' Test before they link up with the senior team in Perth on November 11.

With Boland, one of Australia's senior reserve pacers steaming in and hitting the deck, it will be a stern test for the likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal but Rahul will certainly get the maximum traction because of his chances of playing in the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

During the practice session at the MCG, Rahul looked in good touch.

With Easwaran and skipper Gaikwad set to open, it is expected that Rahul will bat at No. 5 or 6 in the India A set-up as that would be his batting position if he is selected in the playing XI at any point during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

There is a firm belief that when it comes to facing quality fast bowling in bouncy conditions, Rahul with hundreds at Lord's, Oval, Sydney, Centurion is better equipped than domestic doyen Sarfaraz Khan, although the latter, after his 150 against New Zealand at Bengaluru, will certainly be the favourite to play at the Optus Stadium from November 22.

As far as the India A team is concerned, there will be four changes in the squad that played the first 'unofficial Test' at Mackay, which the visitors lost by seven wickets.

Rahul will come in place of Baba Indrajith, who scored 9 and 6 at Mackay and didn't look comfortable at all against pace and bounce, which wasn't exactly 125 clicks.

Jurel will come in place of Ishan Kishan, who was at the centre of a ball-change controversy at Mackay, although it was his terse remarks that left the on-field umpires annoyed.

Navdeep Saini, who also had a poor game will make way for left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, while off-spinner all-rounder Tanush Kotian will replace slow left-arm orthodox Manav Suthar in the playing XI.

Two players who will miss out on game time are keeper-batter Abhishek Porel and burly middle-order willow wielder Ricky Bhui.