Sam Konstas included in Australia's four-day squad for India tour ahead of BGT 2027

Keeping in mind the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2027 in India, Australia have backed Sam Konstas and Peter Handscomb for their four-day matches against India A later in September, which reflects their pre-planning for the series and could prove to be vital for their qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025/27 final. 

Peter Handscomb, the 35-year-old, has played 20 Tests in his career, with the last one coming on their previous tour of India in 2023, and remains one of the key domestic players in the bowling-dominated era. He was the leading run-getter of the previous season’s Sheffield Shield with 724 runs at 34.47.

Konstas, Handscomb, McSweeney, Murphy and Richardson headline 15-man Australia A group

The selectors have also kept Nathan McSweeney in the side, along with Victoria left-hander Campbell Kellaway. Jake Weatherald is missing a place in the A squad after being absent from the home Bangladesh series.

“Think you've just got to respect that sometimes they can be quick and you can make that adjustment seamlessly, and sometimes that's a real challenge. So we've been really clear with Jake. It's certainly not the end of the road for him. At his best, the style of cricket, the way he plays, there's a lot to like about that.” Australia’s chief of selectors, George Bailey, revealed in the press conference.  

“He was one that we discussed whether there was then value in him going on this India A trip, but just to allow a little bit more time to continue to embed the changes so that the gap between what it looks like at training and then how it looks like in performance can hopefully close a little bit.” He added.  

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Jhye Richardson and Brendan Doggett, featuring in the last year’s home Ashes 2025/26, are part of the four-day squad. However, they have left out Matt Kuhnemann, who can be part of the India Test trip. Sam Harper has been rewarded with a position for his excellent Shied campaign.

Australia A four-day squad vs India A-

Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, 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

Australia A one-day squad vs India A-

Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw

Two four-day matches vs India A set for September 22–October 2 in Puducherry

While Australia’s senior side will play a three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe as preparation for their 50-over series and the Test series against South Africa in the Rainbow Nation, their A-team will play two four-day games against India A in Puducherry.

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The first four-day contest will be played between September 22 and 26, while the second four-day game will take place from September 29 to October 02, after the focus shifts to the one-day squad.

All three one-day games will be played at the same venue, taking place on October 6, 9, and 11. The shadow tour acts as preparation for their next year’s India trip for the BGT 2027.