Bengal will be without skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran and pacer Akash Deep for two consecutive matches in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, as both players will join the India A squad for the second four-day Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru.
The unofficial Test series begins on October 30, but Easwaran and Akash will only be available for the second match, starting November 6 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). As per reports, the players called up for the game must report to Bengaluru by November 2.
Their selection means Bengal will miss the duo for the third and fourth rounds of the Ranji season, against Tripura and Railways, scheduled from November 1 and November 8, respectively. Players chosen for the white-ball leg are also expected to miss much of the first half of the Ranji Trophy.
Bengal Stars Join India A, Shukla Relieved Despite Missing Ranji Matches
The update comes despite head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla, in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda earlier this year, expressing reservations about including established performers in the India A squad.
The former India and KKR all-rounder had lamented their absence from key state-level matches but appeared somewhat relieved that Bengal’s two upcoming Ranji fixtures are against comparatively weaker sides.
India A squad for the 1st four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain
India A squad for the 2nd four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
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