Sony Sports to televise all three India A games in New Zealand

India A’s New Zealand matches to be shown live

Sony Sports will broadcast and produce all three four-day matches on India A’s tour of New Zealand, making the fixtures available live to viewers in India. The broadcaster has confirmed that the games will begin at 3.30am IST.

The Dhruv Jurel-led side is scheduled to play the first match from October 24 to 27, the second from October 31 to November 3, and the third from November 7 to 10. The opening and final fixtures are set for Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, with the middle game at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal are among the players expected to feature for India A in New Zealand

Star names feature in Jurel’s squad

India A’s squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar and Sai Sudharsan. The players are due to leave Bengaluru for New Zealand on October 18. The matches form part of a shadow tour alongside India’s Test series.

It is unusual for India A tour games in New Zealand to receive television coverage. Sony’s rights to cricket in New Zealand and the presence of several prominent players have helped bring the fixtures to its schedule. The broadcaster will also show India’s five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests on the tour; on days when India internationals and India A matches coincide, both are due to be broadcast live.

CoE staff to lead support team

The Centre of Excellence staff that typically oversees India A assignments will manage the team’s support operation. Batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar, pace bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji and spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi are set to travel with the squad, along with physio Thulasi and trainer Harrsha. There is no immediate confirmation on whether VVS Laxman, who coached India at the Asian Games, will join the tour.