Australia A to host India A in two four-day matches ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

India A and Australia A will square off in two four-day games before the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-25 gets underway down under. The Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay will host the first game from October 31 to November 3 before the iconic MCG hosts the second first-class game from November 7 to November 10.

An intra-squad practice fixture comprising of players from both India's senior squad and the A team has also been scheduled at the WACA in Perth from November 15. The five-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22.

Rohit Sharma's men are also scheduled to play five Tests before the Australia tour, with three against New Zealand and two against Bangladesh to be held from September to early November.

Team India have won the last two Test series in Australia

Ajinkya Rahane (M) inspired the last series win in Australia. (Credits: Getty)

India have beaten Australia in the last two Test series down under and will hope to continue the run. They won 2-1 in 2018-19 and with a similar scoreline in 2020-21 against all odds.

The A matches will be of utmost importance for the hosts as more players will have an opportunity to stake their claim. The Baggy Greens don't play any Test cricket from now until the high-voltage series against India.

Both teams last squared off in red-ball cricket at the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2023 at the Kennington Oval. Pat Cummins' men beat India by 209 runs to capture the mace.

Nevertheless, the sub-continent giants will take confidence from their last two series victories and Australia's recent batting vulnerabilities, capped by losing to the West Indies at the Gabba in the 2023-24 summer in a series that finished 1-1.