{
  "id": 9949602,
  "title": "Anshul Kamboj exploits tricky Puducherry pitch as India ‘A’ beat Australia ‘A’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/anshul-kamboj-exploits-tricky-puducherry-pitch-as-india-a-beat",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T09:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/anshul-kamboj-exploits-tricky-puducherry-091000574.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Puducherry weather was unkind on the pace bowlers. The pitch offered minimal assistance to the seaming delivery. However, India 'A' paceman Anshul Kamboj managed to break through. He struck early, dismissing Australia 'A' batsmen Nathan McSweeney and Peter Handscomb with two successive deliveries, setting the stage for a 162-run win in the first unofficial Test here on Friday. McSweeney was caught off-guard by the extra bounce, while Handscomb was undone by a low ball clipping the off stump. Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani and medium-pacer Tushar Deshpande each claimed three wickets as the Aussies were all out for 200, falling short of their target of 363 in the second innings. Kamboj, after finishing with 2-25, acknowledged the challenging conditions. \"It was too hot for fast bowling. You have to put in a lot of effort to maintain the intensity. I am very happy that I am able to maintain that,\" Kamboj stated after the victory. The surface, characterized by its \"whitish soil\" and limited bounce, required patience and precision. \"This is whitish soil. So here it was just that we always have to keep the wickets in play and bowl within stumps,\" Kamboj explained. Kamboj's talent in red-ball cricket was evident with his eight-wicket innings haul in the Duleep Trophy and a remarkable 10-wicket performance against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy in 2024. His efforts paid off when he earned his Test debut at Old Trafford in July 2025, claiming 1-89 before being dropped from the team. Kamboj remains undeterred by setbacks, emphasizing that a few losses do not define one's abilities. \"I am not trying to change anything. If one or two matches go wrong in your career, it doesn’t mean that you are bad. Everyone can see your hard work. If I just keep working hard, the results will fall in favour,\" Kamboj asserted. He was also CSK's leading wicket-taker in the 2026 season, claiming 21 wickets. Kamboj now looks forward to further honing his skills under new head coach Zaheer Khan. \"I am very excited to meet him. I had a camp with him in CoE in Bengaluru.\" Brief scores: India 'A' 334 & 199, Australia 'A' 171 & 200 (F O Neill 47; T Deshpande 3-14, S Mulani 3-57). India 'A' claimed a victory by 162 runs. Hardik Pandya, sidelined by a fresh right-shin injury, will miss at least three weeks, excluding him from India's upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand.",
  "summary": "Kamboj was the first to strike in the morning session, using the cracks and variable bounce to dismiss Australia ‘A’ batters Nathan McSweeney and Peter Handscomb in consecutive overs to set up a 162-run win in the first unofficial Test here on Friday. McSweeney was surprised by the extra bounce before Handscomb was beaten by one that stayed low and crashed into the off stump. Left-arm spinner…",
  "key_points": [
    "India 'A' secured a 162-run victory over Australia 'A' on a tricky Puducherry pitch.",
    "Anshul Kamboj took 2-25 and 3-14, exploiting the unhelpful conditions for Australia 'A'.",
    "Kamboj, a rising star in red-ball cricket, earned his Test debut in July 2025."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "India beat Japan 2-0, enter men's hockey semis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/india-beat-japan-2-0-enter-mens-hockey-semis",
        "published": "2026-09-26T09:53:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}