Abhishek pings: This partnership is also down to Australia bowlers missing their lines. Rocchiccioli starts with an overpitched delivery after Tea and is slog swept over midwicket. In the next over, Doggett starts his over with a delivery angling down leg and Kushagra picks an easy boundary.

Kotian gets stuck into Rocchiccioli immediately after Tea as he smacks him for a six and a four off the first two balls!

India A looked to be in serious trouble at 97 for five after Sai Sudharsan fell for 57. But Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian have given the host something to work with, putting together an unbeaten 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Australia A remains in the ascendancy, but India A has shown some fight. Can Kushagra and Kotian carry this recovery further? We’ll find out soon. Stay tuned.

Murphy constantly hitting 90 clicks through this second session. He’s a lot faster than the first session, probably trying to exploit the surface and hoping for the ball to skid on.

Tanush Kotian and Kumar Kushagra have done well to stitch together a 40-run partnership. India is closing in on the 150-mark but has lost half its side. Australia remains on top, but Kushagra and Kotian will know that a determined rearguard could put the visitor under pressure.

Sai Sudharsan bites the dust after hitting a fifty, leaving India A in the doldrums. Rocchiccioli has his third, and this one is a stunning one-handed return catch. Tanush Kotian joins Kushagra.

Rathod plays for turn but this delivery darts straight with the angle. A thick inside edge and a simple take for short leg. India A 86/4 – Abhishek 

Sai Sudharsan marks his comeback from injury with an 85-ball half-century. Solid knock. But it is time to convert this into a big one.

We have ample evidence by now of ball turning. Australia will probably again get in Murphy for an extended 7-8 over spell. But for India A, it’s possibly the best possible pair at crease. Rathod is no stranger to these kind situations, having rescued Vidarbha on countless occasions. He is pretty solid against spin too. Sudharsan looks well set and should look to get a big score here.

Sai Sudharsan will have his eyes on a half-century, but he knows India is in a precarious position. Another wicket could put Australia firmly in control of the proceedings. Australia, meanwhile, will be looking to make early inroads after Lunch.

India goes to Lunch at 78 for 3. Rasheed’s wicket will have given Australia a lift, but Sudharsan’s unbeaten 45 should give the host some confidence. Back after Lunch.

Abhishek from Puducherry: Australia with a bit of aggression towards the close of session. Rasheed had picked countless singles just by knocking deliveries down to long on. Rocchiccioli gets a silly mid on in place now. Forces the error as he gets Rasheed to give a return catch. Big breakthrough just on the stroke of Lunch.

Just what the doctor ordered as far as Aussies are concerned. Shaik Rasheed is c & b off Rocchiccioli just minutes before Lunch. 

Sheik Rasheed has been compact in defence and looked comfortable despite not getting many runs. He has barely played a false shot so far, notes our man on the ground, Abhishek.

Meanwhile, after a healthy dose of off-spin from both ends through Corey Rocchiccioli and Todd Murphy, Brendan Doggett comes on for some medium pace, replacing Murphy. Change of ends for Rocchiccioli basically. Murphy bowled eight in a row. Australia would love another breakthrough before lunch.

Sudharsan is getting some reward now after dropping anchor for the last hour. Murphy and Rocchiccioli have both offered him long hops, and Sudharsan has put them away with a cut and a pull. He is now 31 off 59.

The early dismissals have once again brought Sai Sudharsan into focus. With his team in choppy waters, the opportunity is there for the left-hander to steady the innings and, in the process, strengthen his case for a return to the Test side.

It’s been a tough last month or so for the TN batter. Just when the timing seemed right for his Test comeback, a toe stress fracture complicated matters.

Sudharsan had initially been picked for the Sri Lanka series, subject to fitness clearance, but he could not recover in time. His absence opened the door for Devdutt Padikkal, who seized the opportunity and made the most of his chance.

There is a clear trend now while bowling from the pavilion end. The short balls are getting enough carry but slightly fuller and the ball tends to skid on and come through slightly lower.

Change from both ends as Liam Scott replaces Fergus O’Neill. India A may have lost early wickets but B. Sai Sudharsan has looked in fine touch this morning, leaving well and driving smartly through the infield.

Big call from Australia as it turns to the spin of Todd Murphy early on. He starts with a no-ball but bounces back to claim the massive wicket of Devdutt Padikkal! Tossed up, Padikkal fends at it and nicks it to slip to end his stay at the crease. 

First one down, and it’s Aman Mokhade who falls! First wicket for Australia A. O’Neill had been troubling him with deliveries seaming in. Had cramped him for room too. This one darts in and Mokhade is too slow to react.

He reviews, but it is in vain.

Sudharsan gets off the mark with a flowing drive through covers for two, and Doggett replies by snaking one past the outside edge. Mokhade clips Fergus away for two more.

A probing start from Doggett, who immediately gets some extra lift off the surface to keep Sai Sudharsan honest. He bowls a maiden to start, and the first runs come from the bat of Aman Mokhade, who tucks away a ball down leg from Fergus O’Neill.

We’re almost ready to go in Puducherry, Aman Mokhade and B. Sai Sudharsan will open up for India A, while Brendan Doggett will take the new ball. Let’s play!

Abhishek sends visuals of the ground, where things are slightly overcast this morning. Could be a challenging first hour or so.

Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Peter Handscomb (c), Jason Sangha, Josh Philippe (wk), Liam Scott, Fergus O’Neill, Todd Murphy, Corey Rocchiccioli, Brendan Doggett.

Aman Mokhade, B. Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Shaikh Rasheed, Yash Rathod, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, Anshul Kamboj, Tushar Deshpande, Praful Hinge. 

Abhishek Saini pings us from the ground with a toss update, India A will have a bat first! 

Brendan Doggett, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott.

Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal [C], Sai Sudharsan [VC], Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan [WK], Nachiket Bhute, Tripurana Vijay.

Hello, and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A in Puducherry! 

Stay with us for all of the updates from what should be a fascinating day’s cricket.