The young left-handed opening batter of the Indian side, Abhishek Sharma, who won the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award after his heroics in the Asia Cup 2025 with the bat, helped the Suryakumar Yadav-led side win the title as they defeated Pakistan in the final of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Abhishek Sharma was back to action as he featured for the India A side during the second unofficial ODI against Australia at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. It is the same day when his sister was tying the knot with the businessman, Lovish Oberoi, in Amritsar, which is their hometown. After the end of the wedding, Komal spoke to the media and revealed that she had been missing her brother.

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“It feels amazing. This is such a great day for me, I am tying the knot today. I am very happy and excited. I am missing my brother.” Said Komal. The southpaw batter also took to his Instagram to share a screenshot of their video call with her sister as he wore the Indian jersey on the same day.

Watch: Abhishek Sharma’s emotional video call with his sister goes viral on social media

Abhishek Sharma posted the pictures of attending her sister’s haldi function, but was in Kanpur on the wedding evening. However, he had a poor outing as he ended up with a golden duck, getting dismissed by Will Sutherland as they suffered a collapse and found themselves at 16/3. Tilak Verma and Riyan Parag somehow posted 246 runs on the board.

 

 

 

 

 

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Abhishek was in excellent form throughout the Asia Cup 2025 as he finished as the leading run-getter of the event with 314 runs in seven outings, including three half-centuries at the best score of 75 runs. He, however, couldn’t put the same show in the final.

Abhishek is expected to get selected for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia down under. He could be the spare opener along with two strong contenders, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, as they will start preparation for the World Cup 2027.

India A batters thrashed the Australia A bowlers in the first unofficial ODI at Kanpur, where the opener Priyansh Arya and the skipper Shreyas Iyer scored powerful centuries, as India A scored 400+ runs with five 50+ scores. 

India A scored 413/6 in 50 overs: Priyansh Arya 101 and Shreyas Iyer 110

While Tuesday (September 30) was washed out by rain, the India A vs Australia A first unofficial ODI was started on Wednesday (October 1), which was the reserve day for the match. India A openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh provided a strong start with a 135-run partnership for the first wicket. After Singh was dismissed for 56 runs in 53 balls with six fours and two sixes, Arya continued his smashing with the skipper Shryeas Iyer. 

Arya scored 101 runs in 84 balls with 11 fours and five sixes. Then, Iyer and Riyan Parag set up another strong 132-run partnership for the third wicket. With five fours and five sixes, Parag scored 67 runs in just 42 balls.

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Skipper Iyer and Ayush Badoni then quickly added a 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Captain Iyer scored 110 runs off just 83 balls with 12 fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, before losing his wicket in the last over, Badoni scored a quick-fire 50 off 27 balls with four fours and three sixes. 

While all the top five India A batters scored 50+ runs, including two centuries, India A scored 413/6 in 50 overs. It was the third-highest unofficial ODI total for India A, the highest in the last seven years. 

Australia A had to use seven bowlers, but the visitors had no clue at all. Captain Will Sutherland was their only bowler to pick up more than one wicket in that innings, as he had the bowling figures of 9-0-73-2. 

Australia A all out for 242

In reply, Australia A were bowled out for only 242 runs in 33.1 overs, as India A won by 171 runs, their largest List A win against Australia A and fourth largest win against any team in this format. While the opener Mackenzie Harvey (68) and skipper Will Sutherland (50) scored half-centuries, Lachlan Shaw (45), Cooper Connolly (33), and Jake Fraser-McGurk (23) failed to capitalise on their quick starts. 

Among the India A bowlers, Nishant Sindhu got four wickets, as he had the bowling figures of 6.1-0-50-4, while Ravi Bishnoi got two wickets in his eight overs (2/49). While Australia A were once fighting at 169/2 in the 21st over, they ultimately failed to handle the constant high required run rate pressure.

Just an hour before the 15-member squad announcement for three unofficial ODIs against Australia A, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad. They also revealed the Rest of India (ROI) side for the upcoming Irani Cup 2025, which will be played against the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 winner, Vidarbha, from October 01 in Nagpur.

For the opening unofficial ODI, there is no vice-captain for Shreyas Iyer’s leadership as the games will be played in Kanpur, from September 30. Once the Asia Cup 2025 ends, Tilak Verma will become the vice-captain, while Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will join the squad for the second game.

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For the Rest of India squad, Rajat Patidar, the winning captain of the Duleep Trophy 2025, will lead the side, as Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the vice-captain of the squad. Ishan Kisan returns from injury, while Manav Suthar’s inclusion indicates he won’t get a place for the home West Indies series.

BCCI announces India A and ROI squad ahead of domestic season 2025-26

Khaleel Ahmed is likely to lead the pace attack of the ROI side, while Saransh Jain has also been selected. Abhimanyu Easwaran will be the opener of the team to take on Vidarbha.

“Mr. Shreyas Iyer has informed the BCCI of his decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket. Having undergone back surgery in the UK and managed his recovery well, he has recently experienced recurring back spasms and stiffness while playing the longer format.” The BCCI revealed in an official statement.

India’s A Squad for 1st Unofficial ODI:

Shreyas Iyer (C), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Priyansh Arya, Simarjeet Singh

India’s A Squad for 2nd and 3rd Unofficial ODIs:

Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Verma (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh

Rest of India Squad (Irani Cup):

Rajat Patidar (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Aryan Juyal (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Yash Dhull, Shaikh Rasheed, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Saransh Jain

The left-handed batter of the Karnataka side, Devdutt Padikkal, has recorded a fine comeback during the ongoing first unofficial Test between India A and Australia ahead of the upcoming home Test season, where the Blue Brigade will feature in a couple of two-match Test series against West Indies and South Africa, to earn vital points in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. 

Padikkal resumed the fourth and final day for India A on an unbeaten 86 runs at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. He took only 20 deliveries to celebrate the century on the morning as the Shreyas Iyer-led side was closing the margin to Australia’s mammoth first-innings total of 532/6.

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The 25-year-old left-hander made his debut in just his second competitive game since the end of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the champions for the very first time in the history of the tournament. That will be a huge confidence booster for the left-handed batter ahead of the home series.

Watch: Devdutt Padikkal celebrates fine century against Australia A in Lucknow

Padikkal returned to action during the 2025 season of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where the left-handed batter clubbed 57 runs in the first innings before remaining unbeaten for 16 runs in the second innings of the clash for the South Zone against the North Zone. It was his seventh first-class century as he scored 90 runs in three Test innings for India.

Apart from that, Dhruv Jurel also contributed with 140 runs in 197 balls at a strike rate of 70 with the help of 13 boundaries and four sixes. Both Sai Sudharsan and Narayan Jagadeesan celebrated their respective half-centuries to cross their 450-run mark.

Australia, in the first innings, drilled 532/6 in 98 overs, thanks to 109 runs from Sam Konstas, while Josh Phillippie remained unbeaten on 123 runs in just 87 balls at a strike rate of more than 140 with 18 boundaries and four sixes.

Match Scorecard till Day 4 morning session-

India A- 474/5 (Dhruv Jurel 140, Devdutt Padikkal 118*, Liam Scott 1/31) trail Australia A- 532/6 dec (Josh Phillipie 123*, Sam Konstas 109, Harsh Dubey 3/141) by 58 runs.

The former Indian opening batter, Aakash Chopra, has been surprised at the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the India A squad against Australia in the unofficial Test and ODI series at home. He laments that the Chennai Super Kings’ captain’s name has been lost in a vast emerging pool of batting talent.

Gaikwad was in great form recently with a century during the Buchi Babu Tournament before nailing a fine knock of 184 runs for the West Zone against Central Zone during the Duleep Trophy 2025 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He couldn’t play the IPL 2025 for the Chennai Super Kings due to injury.

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“The question is extremely important because he has scored runs. I agree he was injured for some time. However, he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy as well, where Rajat Patidar also scored runs. It’s praiseworthy that two back-to-back IPL-winning captains lifted domestic trophies as well.” Chopra expressed in a video on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra surprised at Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from India A squad against Australia

Chopra highlighted the T20I century against Australia of Gaikwad and the latter’s leadership skills during India’s Asia Games campaign two years ago. After missing out on the India A games, the veteran is anticipated to return in action through the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 for Maharashtra, starting on October 15.

“Shreyas Iyer did that, and Rajat Patidar has also done it. It seems like captaincy is suiting Rajat Patidar. Coming to Ruturaj Gaikwad, he scored a century against Australia in Guwahati and is a technically compact player. He was the captain in the Asian Games. We won the Asian Games under Ruturaj’s captaincy. He is a very good player.” Chopra added in the video.

“It’s a slight travesty that your name gets lost among so many names. However, I can understand the Indian selection, but I feel it’s not right if his name doesn’t come for India-A both in multi-day and one-day. He is too good a player to actually miss out completely on every single thing. That is what I feel.” The former Indian opening batter concluded.

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

Shreyas Iyer, the middle-order Indian batter, has found himself in the news for the last couple of weeks. It all started with him getting ignored from the 15-member squad of the Blue Brigade for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 09. Instead of him, the selection committee decided to go with Shubman Gill, who also got the vice-captaincy responsibility of the Blue Brigade.

But there is another chance for the veteran to shine. It will be against Australia at home. for India. The Iyer issue will be under focus whenever the selectors meet. There is no question of Iyer getting a chance in the eleven, but it’s around whether he would get a huge role in the team. The Aussies will be in India next week to play two four-day red-ball games and three white-ball encounters.

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Iyer is currently in Bengaluru to play for the West Zone side in the Duleep Trophy 2025 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. On 25, the right-handed batter was cleaned up by left-arm pacer, Khaleel Ahmed. However, it’s unlikely that the knock would make any impact on his selection for the red-ball games, if not for three white-ball fixtures.

Shreyas Iyer likely to lead India A at home against Australia

The 30-year-old has overall smashed 811 runs in 24 Test innings at an average of 36.86 and a strike rate of 63.01, thanks to five half-centuries and one century at the best score of 105 runs. In 137 FC innings, he has drilled 6363 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12 with the help of eight fifties at the best score of undefeated 74 runs.

Apart from Iyer, among the top performers of the ongoing Duleep Trophy, the selectors may consider Nitish Reddy, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Narayan Jagadeesan, Rajat Patidar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and others for the Australia A series.

The first four-day game will start on September 16 in Lucknow, a day after the end of the Duleep Trophy 2025. So, the selection will be made on the semifinal heroics. The second four-day clash will be on September 23 at the same ground before the action shifts to Kanpur for the white-ball games from September 30.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, has been the talk of the town in the ODI format. His future is in question ahead of the upcoming three-match series against Australia down under this November. Many reports have claimed that the three matches could prove to be an acid test for the veteran to stay in contention for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027.

The reports have revealed that the Mumbai batter could feature in the unofficial ODIs against Australia. The opening clash of the series will take place in Kanpur on September 30 before the action moves on to October 03 and 05 at the same venue. This will be a great preparation for the ODI captain of the side.

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Rohit has already retired from the shortest format after the end of the T20 World Cup 2024 final and hung up his boots from the red-ball format just a few weeks before the five-match Test series against England in the United Kingdom. Under his captaincy, the Blue Brigade earned the Champions Trophy 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Rohit Sharma expected to feature in unofficial ODIs against Australia A

Rohit is the tenth leading run-getter in world cricket. He has overall drilled 11168 runs in 265 innings at an average of 48.76 and a strike rate of 92.80, with the help of 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

A few other reports have also claimed that Shreyas Iyer could become the new ODI leader for India in place of Rohit. If the selection committee is planning in such a way, then it could be huge news for the Nagpur-born, who finds himself at a critical position of continuous performance in the 50-over format.

Even if Shreyas doesn’t get the responsibility, then Shubman Gill could. The Punjab-born has already drawn the five-match ODI series in England 2-2, besides becoming the vice-captain of the national side for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. His batting performance in the UK for the last seven weeks has impressed the selectors to take the decision.