Shreyas Iyer to captain India A in Australia A series

Lucknow, 6 September 2025:

Shreyas Iyer will lead a 15-man India A squad in two multi-day matches against Australia A later this month in Lucknow, the BCCI announced Saturday.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, recovering from a knee injury sustained on the recent England tour, has also been included. First-choice Test players KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj will join the squad only for the second match.

Iyer, who last played a Test in February against England in Visakhapatnam, will look to strengthen his case for selection in the upcoming two-Test home series against West Indies starting Oct. 2.

Reddy featured in the second and third Tests of the England series in July before being sidelined. He bowled a lengthy spell to Sai Sudharsan and Ishan Kishan at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru this week, signaling his return to fitness.

The squad also features Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran, all part of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in England, as well as N Jagadeesan, who was called up for the final Test of that tour. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been named vice-captain.

Ayush Badoni earned a call-up after scoring a double-century in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, his second in first-class cricket. The seam attack includes Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Thakur and Gurnoor Brar, while Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian will provide spin options.

Among the notable absentees are Karun Nair, out with a finger injury, as well as Shardul Thakur and Sarfaraz Khan.

The first match begins Sept. 16, followed by the second on Sept. 23. Three one-dayers will follow in Kanpur.

India A squad

Shreyas Iyer (capt), Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (vice-capt, wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Manav Suthar, Yash Thakur, KL Rahul*, Mohammed Siraj* (*for second match only)