Puducherry, Sept. 21 -- As India A gears up to lock horns with Australia A, the spotlight is on southpaws Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan in the opening four-day game at the CAP-Siechem Stadium here, starting on Tuesday.

Skipper Padikkal, who took over the Test No. 3 slot from Sudharsan, seized the opportunity by scoring centuries in both Tests on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, as per a release.

India are scheduled to play two Tests on their multi-format tour of New Zealand later this year, before hosting Australia for a high-profile five-Test series early next year.

It is for a second time in 12 months that an Australia A team is touring India in preparation for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, and their multi-day squ...