India A Post Mammoth Total
India A thrashed Australia A by 171 runs in the first unofficial ODI at Kanpur on Wednesday, powered by stunning centuries from opener Priyansh Arya and captain Shreyas Iyer. After rain washed out Tuesday’s action, the series got underway on the reserve day with a dominant display from the home side.
Batting first, India A piled up a colossal 413 for 6, with Arya contributing 101 and Iyer blasting 110. Riyan Parag (67) and Ayush Badoni (50) added crucial middle-order runs, while Nishant Sindhu and Badoni saw the total past 400. Every one of India’s top six scored at least 50, with strike rates exceeding 100, reflecting their aggressive intent.
Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who had a successful IPL 2025 stint with Punjab Kings, combined for a 135-run opening stand in just 20.3 overs, setting the tone for the innings. Iyer, returning to List A cricket after the Champions Trophy in March, dominated the middle overs with 12 fours and four sixes.
Australia A Struggle in Response
In reply, Australia A managed 242 all out in 33.1 overs, never threatening India A’s massive total. Opener McKenzie Harvey top-scored with 68, while captain Sutherland contributed a quick 50 off 33 balls. Despite a promising start at 116 for 1, Australia A collapsed, losing their last nine wickets for 126 runs and leaving nearly 17 overs unplayed in the chase.
Spinners Nishant Sindhu, Ravi Bishnoi, and Ayush Badoni shared seven wickets, applying relentless pressure. Gurjapneet Singh, making his List A debut, impressed with 1 for 40 from five overs. Australia A’s seven-bowler experiment proved costly, with only Liam Scott maintaining an economy below seven runs per over.
Leadership and Squad Notes
Shreyas Iyer captained India A in place of Rajat Patidar, who is leading the Rest of India side in the ongoing Irani Cup. Iyer, taking a break from red-ball cricket due to back concerns, continues to be a key asset in white-ball formats.
Looking ahead, India A will strengthen their lineup with the arrival of Asia Cup hero Tilak Varma for the remaining two one-dayers, adding further firepower to an already formidable squad.
Takeaway
Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer’s twin centuries set the stage for a dominant India A performance, showcasing the depth and talent available in the white-ball setup. With contributions across the batting and bowling lineups, India A sent a clear message ahead of the remaining fixtures against Australia A.