Shreyas Iyer has been handed the captaincy of the India A squad for the upcoming two-match unofficial multi-day series against Australia A, beginning in mid-September. The Senior Men’s Selection Committee confirmed the squad on Saturday, September 6, with an aim to provide promising talents exposure ahead of the senior team’s busy international calendar.

Dhruv Jurel, the wicketkeeper-batter who has been in fine form recently, has been named vice-captain of the side. Alongside him, the selectors have opted for N Jagadeesan as a second wicket-keeping option for the batting order, thus providing more depth in both batting and keeping. Ayush Badoni's neatness in the middle order has added to India A's batting core.

The bowlers are selected with variety in mind. All the pace options will be Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, and Yash Thakur, as well as having a nice balance with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. In the spin department, Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian will be supported by left-arm spinners Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar. Importantly, KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj are scheduled to join the squad for the second game, replacing two players after the first match. Both were rested following India’s high-intensity series against England.

Fixtures and Series Details

The first multi-day match will be staged at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from September 16 to 19, followed by the second game at the same venue from September 23 to 26. After the red-ball leg, the focus will shift to white-ball cricket, with three unofficial ODIs scheduled in Kanpur’s Green Park. Later, the senior India team will head to Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is in October-November.

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This series is seen as a crucial platform for fringe players to showcase their skills against a strong Australian second-string side. With senior stars Rahul and Siraj also featuring in the latter part, the contests promise to be competitive while providing selectors with valuable insights ahead of the international season.

India A Squad for Multi-Day Series vs Australia A
Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (VC & WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Manav Suthar, Yash Thakur