Shreyas Iyer steps down as India A captain
Shreyas Iyer withdraws from the India A squad ahead of the second Test against Australia A; Dhruv Jurel named new captain.
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. While the exact reason for his sudden return to Mumbai is not confirmed, reports suggest he informed the BCCI that it was due to personal reasons.
Dhruv Jurel to Lead India A in Iyer’s Absence
Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who was Iyer’s deputy in the first match, will now lead the side in his absence. The India A squad has not named any replacement for Iyer.
A source told The Times of India, “Yes, Shreyas has taken a break and returned to Mumbai. He informed the selectors that he won’t be available for the second four-day game against Australia A. Still, he remains in contention for a middle-order spot when the selectors pick the squad for the West Indies series.”
In the first unofficial Test, Iyer managed only 8 runs from 13 balls before being trapped lbw by Australian off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli. The dismissal drew debate at the venue, with many feeling the ball was drifting past leg stump.
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Earlier this month in Bengaluru, the 30-year-old scored 25 and 12 for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone. Despite these modest returns, he is still in the reckoning for a middle-order spot in India’s two-Test home series against the West Indies, beginning October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Earlier this year, Iyer was India’s top run-getter in their successful ODI Champions Trophy campaign, scoring 243 runs in five games at an average of 48.60. However, he did not find a place in the squad for the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai.
Key Changes in India A Squad Ahead of Crucial Match
In a further change to the India A squad, pacer Mohammed Siraj has been brought in to replace Khaleel Ahmed for the second match. Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, however, continues to remain out with a knee injury and is unlikely to feature in the playing XI again.
The first four-day match between India A and Australia A ended in a high-scoring draw, with both sides declaring after surpassing 530 runs. The second and final game will be important for several fringe players hoping to earn a place in the senior Test squad.