Sony Sports will telecast the three four-day games that India A will play in New Zealand as part of the shadow tour of the Test series. The Dhruv Jurel-led side will play the matches from October 24 to 27, October 31 to November 3, and November 7 to 10.
According to sources, Sony Sports, which holds the India rights to cricket in New Zealand, will not only broadcast the matches but also produce them. It is unprecedented for India A tour games in New Zealand to be televised, but the presence of several star players appears to have prompted the broadcaster to show the matches.
The games at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, Hagley Oval in Christchurch and again at Bert Sutcliffe Oval will begin at 3.30 AM IST. Sony sources have confirmed that all three matches will be telecast live. Sony will also broadcast the other India matches on the tour — five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. On days, there will be both India internationals (either a T20I or an ODI) and India A games and both will, of course, be shown live.
The India A team, featuring the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar and Sai Sudharsan among others and led by Jurel, will leave Bengaluru for New Zealand on October 18.
Kanitkar, Joshi and Balaji to be coaches
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the Centre of Excellence (CoE) staff, which normally oversees India A series, will handle the team’s assignments in New Zealand. In fact, the support staff that went to Japan for the Asian Games, will be part of the squad.
There is no immediate information on whether VVS Laxman, who was the head coach of the Indian team at the Asian Games, will travel to New Zealand. However, Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting coach), Laxmipathy Balaji (pace bowling coach) and Sunil Joshi (spin bowling coach), along with physio Thulasi and trainer Harrsha, will travel with the India A side.
