India A to be led by Shreyas Iyer during the match against Australia A, as declared following the Duleep Trophy semifinals, according to a report.
India A Squad for Australia A Series Remains Unclear, Shreyas Iyer Misses Out on Asia Cup 2025
The T20 squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to start on 9 September in the UAE, has been announced without the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer. Meanwhile, speculation surrounding the India A team for the series against Australia A, scheduled to begin on 16 September, is rife, with the selectors yet to confirm the names of the players likely to be selected after the Duleep Trophy semifinals.
In the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2025, Iyer is currently participating for the West Zone, but his chances of representing India A in the upcoming red-ball series against Australia A seem uncertain. His strong performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has kept him in contention for future red-ball matches, including the home Test series against the West Indies in October and a potential away red-ball series in Australia.
Several players have been accumulating significant runs in the current domestic season, with the likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhimanyu Easwaran, B Sai Sudharsan, Narayan Jagadeesan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Rajat Patidar among the contenders for India A selection.
Notably, Jagadeesan scored an impressive 197 in the Duleep Trophy first innings, while Patidar registered scores of 125 and 66 in a Duleep Trophy quarter-final and remained unbeaten on 47 in the subsequent semifinal. Gaikwad, on the other hand, tallied 184 in a Duleep Trophy match.
Easwaran, who has prior India A captaincy experience, is also in the running for a spot in the India A squad. He will be hoping to impress the selectors during the Duleep Trophy semifinals, with the squad for the India A vs Australia A series expected to be announced once the semifinals conclude on 7 September.
The series against Australia A will consist of two four-day matches and three one-day games. The first unofficial Test will take place at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium, with the second red-ball game scheduled later in September. The one-day games will commence at Green Park in early October.
Iyer, who has previously captained the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, will captain India A in the upcoming red-ball series against Australia A.
The Duleep Trophy final will conclude on 11 September, providing the selectors with an opportunity to assess the form of the potential India A players before finalising the squad. The Asia Cup 2025 will commence on 9 September in the UAE, without the participation of Shreyas Iyer.
