MUMBAI: In order to get some vital red-ball game time, India’s Test specialists — veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, experienced pacer Umesh Yadav and wicketkeeper KS Bharat — are set to be a part of the India A side on their upcoming tour of Bangladesh in November-December.
India A will play two four-day games against Bangladesh A on the tour — the first from November 29 to December 2, and the second from December 6 to 9. The head coach of the team will be Saurashtra’s Sitanshu Kotak. Kotak was also the head coach of India A when New Zealand A toured India in September-October.
With Pujara, Yadav and Bharat all part of the Test side for Bangladesh, the India A tour will serve as a ‘shadow tour’ ahead of India's two-Test series in Bangladesh, giving vital exposure to these players in similar conditions.
“Pujara might join the India A team only for the second match, but even that will give him useful practice ahead of the Test,” a source told TOI.
The Tests will be held from December 14-18 in Chattogram, and December 22-26 in Mirpur.
