In his captaincy debut, 22‑year‑old Shubman Padikkal hit a 50 off 68 balls, giving India A a solid 363 and leaving Australia A struggling in the chase.

Padikkal's debut fifty drives India A as Australia A stumble. The 22‑year‑old scored 50 on his first appearance as captain, giving India A a solid platform before the visitors began their chase of 363 runs.

Padikkal's captaincy debut

Opening the innings, Padikkal reached the half‑century in 68 balls. He combined aggressive strokeplay with measured defence, rotating the strike and finding the boundary on the leg side. After reaching 50, he added three more runs before being caught behind off the fifth over.

Pitch conditions in Puducherry

By the close of day three, the Puducherry pitch showed uneven bounce and variable pace. Bowlers from both sides reported that deliveries sometimes rose sharply and at other times kept low, making shot selection difficult. The surface, described by the match officials as “behaving erratically,” forced batsmen to adjust their footwork constantly.

Australia A's early setbacks

Australia A lost their first two wickets within the first 12 overs, both dismissals coming from short‑length deliveries that seized on the uneven bounce. The opening pair managed a modest 23 runs before the first wicket fell, and the second wicket arrived at 31.

Despite the early losses, Australia A continued the chase with a measured approach, aiming to steady the innings while the pitch settled. Their middle order will need to negotiate the unpredictable surface if they hope to reach the 363‑run target.

India A will bowl with the same discipline that produced Padikkal's fifty, exploiting the pitch's quirks. The match is set to resume on day four, with both teams aware that the outcome hinges on adapting to the fickle conditions.