# India A cricket team leadership appointments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/india-a-cricket-team-leadership-appointments
> Updated: 2026-09-20T18:11:22.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Preparations for the India A cricket series against Australia A in Puducherry have progressed with key leadership appointments. Devdutt Padikkal was named captain for the two upcoming multi-day matches scheduled for late September and early October. Padikkal, who previously captained Karnataka, noted that leadership is something he “really enjoy[s] doing” and described the role as an “added responsibility.”

Following the captaincy announcement, former fast bowler Lakshmipati Balaji was appointed as the Head Coach for the series. The tour includes two four-day matches and three One Day International (ODI) matches. While Padikkal leads the Test format, Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the ODI squad. The roster features several players, including Sai Sudharsan, though Hardik Pandya’s participation is contingent upon fitness clearance.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-20: Lakshmipati Balaji appointed India A Head Coach

Former Indian fast bowler Lakshmipati Balaji has been named Head Coach of India A for the upcoming series against Australia A in Puducherry.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lakshmipati-balaji-appointed-india-a-head-coach

### 2026-09-12: Devdutt Padikkal appointed India A captain for Australia A series

Devdutt Padikkal has been named captain of India A for two upcoming Multi-Day matches against Australia A, following his successful leadership of Karnataka and a strong Test series against Sri Lanka.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/devdutt-padikkal-appointed-india-a-captain-for-australia-a-series

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Cite as: India A cricket team leadership appointments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/india-a-cricket-team-leadership-appointments