Five talking points from India A's quadrangular series win

India A have won the quadrangular series, involving Australia A, South Africa A and Australia’s National Performance Squad (NPS), after defeating Australia A in the final by 4 wickets at Darwin, Australia. The Indian national selectors had picked a squad comprising of players on the brink of the senior team selection, for this series, and this ploy will hold them in good stead for picking the teams for future challenges ahead. A vast number of players made a positive impact in the series by coming up with important contributions at difficult times, while a few disappointed. Here are 5 talking points from the team’s sensational triumph:

#1 Robin Uthappa

It looked as though Robin Uthappa had turned the corner after a good domestic season for Karnataka was followed by a fruitful 2 months with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he finished up as the leading run-scorer. Noticing his consistently good performances, the selectors rewarded him with a call-up to the Indian ODI squad for the tour of Bangladesh in June. But he couldn’t make the most of his opportunity, managing just 69 runs in 3 ODIs against a weak Bangladeshi side. The 28-year old would’ve been keen on putting that aberration behind him and capitalizing on his good form with a successful trip to Australia with the India A team. But things haven’t panned out the way he would’ve hoped, managing just 134 runs in 7 games at a poor average of 19.14.

#2 Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has been touted as a future Indian player for some time now, having impressed one and all with his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Not only is he an exciting batsman to watch, he is also fast developing into a fine wicket-keeper. The Kerala player possesses an abundance of talent and just needs to fine-tune his game in order to be more consistent with the bat, rather than producing just the odd innings of brilliance before going missing for a few games. He is still just 19-years old and has massive scope for improvement with time, but the series in Australia has provided us a glimpse of what awaits us in a few years’ time.

He has shown us that he can bat at No.3 with his exploits for the Rajasthan-based side and is now showing us his versatility, as well, after playing the role of a finisher rather than batting in the top-order during this tournament. Despite not getting too many opportunities as a result of batting in the lower-order, he has finished as India’s leading run-scorer with 244 runs in 7 matches at an average of 81.33.

#3 Dhawal Kulkarni

Dhawal Kulkarni has toiled long and hard for his state, Mumbai, in the Ranji Trophy over the last few years. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy during Mumbai’s triumphant 2008-09 season, taking 42 wickets in 9 matches, and was rewarded with a place in the Indian Test squad for the tour of New Zealand in 2009. But he didn’t get to feature in any of the 3 Tests, and, since then, it’s been a struggle for the Mumbai seamer. This series, though, could perhaps provide the 25-year old the fillip that he needs.

The right arm fast bowler has finished the quadrangular series as the leading wicket-taker, with 14 wickets in 6 matches, and could be a strong contender for India’s tour of Australia later this year. Zaheer’s recent injuries have left a huge void in the Indian bowling department, and Dhawal, if shown a bit of faith, could be the man to fill the void.

#4 Akshar Patel

Akshar Patel’s stocks have risen hugely in a matter of 3-4 months. A few months ago, Akshar’s ability as a cricketer was known to only those who followed domestic cricket with an eagle eye. Sanjay Bangar, the coach of Kings XI Punjab, being one of those, decided to buy Akshar at the IPL auctions, and the left-arm spinner’s development, since then, has been truly remarkable.

His economy rate during the IPL season was a meagerly 6.13, and he also came up with critical performances with the bat in hand. He impressed the Indian selectors so much so that he earned an India call up for the ODI series against Bangladesh and the A tour to Australia and has now shown that his IPL showing wasn’t a flash in the pan, taking 9 wickets in 6 games at a frugal economy and scoring 45 off 38 balls to give India A a victory in the final.

#5 Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav is one of those cricketers who hasn’t attracted much attention despite scoring runs heavily in domestic cricket over the last few years. But that is beginning to change: he was lauded for scoring a magnificent hundred for Maharashtra in this year’s Ranji Trophy quarter-finals to knock Mumbai out of the tournament. He also enjoyed a good IPL season with Delhi Daredevils, scoring runs at a quick pace towards the latter overs of an innings with remarkable consistency.

The 29-year-old has continued his good form in the quadrangular series, scoring 225 runs for India A in just 4 matches at an average of 56.25 and also played a crucial role in the team winning the final by making 78 from 73 deliveries.

While national honours have eluded him until now, it won’t be long before he gets his chance at the senior level if he continues his rich vein of form.