India’s middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has pulled out of the India A squad just hours before the second four-day unofficial Test against Australia A, starting Tuesday in Lucknow. The exact reason for Iyer’s sudden departure to Mumbai remains unclear, though it is reported that he informed the BCCI of personal reasons.
In his absence, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who was Iyer’s deputy in the first match, is expected to take over the captaincy. No replacement has been named for Iyer in the India A squad.
“Yes, Shreyas is taking a break and has returned to Mumbai. He has informed the selectors that he won’t be able to play in the second four-day match against Australia A. However, he remains in fray for a spot in the middle-order when the selectors meet to pick the squad for the West Indies series,” a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
In the first unofficial Test, Iyer managed only 8 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed lbw by Australian off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli—a decision that many at the ground considered questionable, as the ball seemed to miss the leg stump.
Iyer Still In India’s Middle Order Plans Despite Low Scores
Earlier this month, the 30-year-old had scored 25 and 12 for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone in Bengaluru. Despite these modest outings, Iyer is still in contention for a middle-order spot in India’s upcoming two-Test home series against the West Indies, beginning October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Shreyas Iyer had shone during India’s victorious ODI Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year, finishing as the team’s top scorer with 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60. However, he was excluded from the squad for the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai.
In another change to the India A squad, pacer Mohammed Siraj is set to replace Khaleel Ahmed for the second match. Andhra Pradesh all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy remains sidelined with a persistent knee injury and is expected to miss the playing XI once again.
The first four-day clash between India A and Australia A ended in a high-scoring draw, with both sides declaring after surpassing 530 runs. The second and final match of the series will be important for several fringe players looking to stake their claim for a spot in the senior Test team.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
