India A vs Australia A – 2nd Unofficial Test Match Preview – 23 September 2025

Match: 2nd Unofficial Test
Date & Time: Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 09:30 AM (GMT)
Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Series: Australia A tour of India 2025
Format: Unofficial Test (2 Tests & 3 ODIs)

Match Context

Following a closely contested first unofficial Test, the second encounter between India A and Australia A promises to be another high-stakes battle. With both teams looking to gain the upper hand in this two-match series, the match at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium will be crucial in setting the tone for the remainder of the tour, which includes a three-ODI series as well.

Venue & Pitch Conditions

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium is known for its balanced nature, offering good bounce and carry for the bowlers, while still being quite batting-friendly. The pace-friendly outfield and spin-friendly surface could make it a fascinating contest between the two sets of bowlers and batsmen.

Team Form & Key Players

India A

India A has shown promise in recent matches, particularly with their lower-order resilience and the form of their spinners. The likes of Rajat Patidar and Vishnu Vinod have impressed with the bat, while Siddharth Kaul and Axar Patel have been consistent with the ball.

• Top Batsman (India A): Rajat Patidar
• Top Bowler (India A): Siddharth Kaul

Australia A

Australia A, on the other hand, boasts a strong all-round side with depth in both batting and bowling. Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson have been standout performers with the ball, while Jackson Bird and Josh Inglis provide firepower at the top and middle order respectively.

• Top Batsman (Australia A): Josh Inglis
• Top Bowler (Australia A): Matthew Kuhnemann

Head-to-Head

The recent history between these two sides has been a tale of two teams. Australia A has had the upper hand in recent meetings, including a 98-run win in 2018. However, India A has also managed to pull off victories, most notably a win with 69 balls to spare in 2018. The 2025 unofficial Test series will be the first in over seven years, making this encounter particularly significant.

Toss Prediction

Given the balanced nature of the pitch and the importance of fielding conditions, the toss is expected to play a pivotal role. If the toss is won, the captain is likely to choose to bat first, capitalizing on the good batting conditions and hoping to post a sizeable total.

Probable Playing XI

India A

• Squad: Rohit Gaikwad, Vishnu Vinod, Rajat Patidar, Sushant Modani, Shahbaz Ahmed, Axar Patel, Siddharth Kaul, Shubman Gill (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Mohd. Azharuddin, Jaydev Unadkat

Australia A

• Squad: Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Swepson, Josh Inglis, Jackson Bird, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Daniel Sams, Mitchell Swepson, Kane Richardson

Fantasy & Dream11 Insights

• Captaincy Pick: Josh Inglis (Australia A) – All-round threat
• Wicketkeeper: Matthew Gilkes (Australia A)
• Bowler: Siddharth Kaul (India A), Matthew Kuhnemann (Australia A)
• All-rounder: Cameron Green (Australia A)

Match Prediction

With both teams in strong form and the match being crucial for momentum in the series, this is expected to be a competitive and high-scoring affair. The pitch at Ekana Stadium should allow for a free-flowing contest, and the total is likely to approach or exceed 325 runs.

Prediction: A close contest, with Australia A edging out India A by a narrow margin, thanks to superior depth and experience in the middle and lower order.

Conclusion

The second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A at Lucknow promises to be a thrilling encounter. With both teams eager to make a statement ahead of the ODIs, fans can look forward to a high-quality Test match that will test the mettle of both sides. The result could go either way, but expect a compelling battle on the field.

Match Time: 09:30 AM GMT
Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Live Scores & Updates: Cricket World Live Scores
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