India batter Shreyas Iyer has withdrawn from the India A squad just hours before the second unofficial Test against Australia A, leaving cricket fans and selectors surprised.
The match, scheduled to begin Tuesday in Lucknow, will now see wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel step in as captain.
Sudden Exit and Leadership Change
According to reports, Iyer cited personal reasons for his decision to leave Lucknow and fly back to Mumbai. No replacement has been named for him in the 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,” a BCCI source told The Times of India. “However, he remains in consideration for a middle-order spot in the senior Test squad for the upcoming West Indies series.”
Recent Form and Selection Prospects
Iyer, 30, had a disappointing outing in the first unofficial Test, managing just 8 runs off 13 balls before falling lbw to Corey Rocchiccioli — a decision many believed was harsh. He also registered modest scores of 25 and 12 in the Duleep Trophy semi-final earlier this month.
Despite recent struggles, Iyer remains in contention for India’s two-Test home series against West Indies, starting October 2 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Squad Updates for 2nd Test
Apart from the captaincy change, Mohammed Siraj will replace Khaleel Ahmed in the India A pace attack for the second match. Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy remains unavailable due to a lingering knee injury and is unlikely to feature in the playing XI.
High-Scoring First Match
India A and Australia A played out a run-fest in the first four-day game, with both sides declaring after crossing 530 runs. The second and final match of the series will be crucial for several fringe players eyeing a spot in India’s senior Test squad.
