MS Dhoni's statemate earns maiden India A call-up, likely to replace KL Rahul in New Zealand A tour

The domestic cricket circuit in India continues to unearth remarkable young talents, and the latest name to capture everyone's attention is Jharkhand’s prolific left-handed opening batter, Shikhar Mohan. Following a stellar run of form across multiple domestic red-ball and multi-day tournaments, Mohan has been drafted into the India A squad for their ongoing tour of New Zealand.

Shikhar Mohan drafted in India A call-up for New Zealand tour

The India A contingent is slated to play a series of three unofficial four-day Test matches against New Zealand A. Mohan’s inclusion is seen as a reward for immense consistency, and an insatiable appetite for big runs on challenging pitches.

Shikhar may replace for KL Rahul in India A squad in the later stages

Reportedly, Shikhar Mohan, who also happens to be legendary MS Dhoni's statemate, is set to join up with the India A squad starting from the second and third unofficial Tests.   

This strategic transition is anticipated because senior batter KL Rahul, who is initially part of the setup, is expected to transition or alter commitments as scheduling overlaps with wider national duties or format rotations. Mohan's arrival provides seamless depth to the batting unit. Entrusted with the responsibility of facing foreign conditions in New Zealand, the young opener will look to make the most of this prime exposure, potentially filling the big shoes left at the top of the order for the latter half of the multi-day series.

Ranji Trophy exploits and sensational centurion knock

Shikhar Mohan’s selection was heavily triggered by his blistering form at the onset of the 2026–27 Ranji Trophy season. Showing supreme concentration and technical mastery, Mohan etched his name into the record books early in the tournament by becoming one of the standout performers of the domestic circuit.   

In a marquee Ranji fixture against Kerala at the Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur, Mohan played a masterclass of an innings, hammering 143 runs off 196 deliveries, featuring 18 commanding boundaries and 2 sixes. This magnificent century set the tone for Jharkhand's campaign, highlighting his ability to anchor an innings under pressure and convert starts into monumental scores. His supreme touch extended into subsequent fixtures, including a brilliant 127 off 210 balls against Maharashtra, further convincing the national selection panel of his readiness for higher honours. In total he has scored 297 runs in two matches of the ongoing season at a robust average of 99.

Shikhar Mohan's stellar domestic show

Mohan’s meteoric rise is backed by a phenomenal body of work across different tiers of Indian domestic cricket:

Ranji Trophy: Across his breakout phases, including his debut campaign in 2025-2026 where he amassed 613 runs in 8 matches (highlighted by a magnificent double century of 207 against Nagaland), Mohan has proven his multi-day capability. In the ongoing 2026–27 season alone, he quickly piled up 297 runs across just two matches at a staggering average of 99.00, anchored by back-to-back centuries.   

Duleep Trophy & Irani Cup: Stepping up to inter-zonal and marquee red-ball challenges, Mohan recorded scores of 85 and 52 for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, followed by a solid 60 runs playing for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup.   

List A & T20 Competitions: In white-ball formats, he has accumulated 391 runs from 7 List A matches at a healthy average of 55.85, including two hundreds and a highest score of 129. In domestic T20 action like the Jharkhand Premier League, he smashed 322 runs across 9 innings, showcasing his adaptability.

While the India A red-ball side integrates young blood like Shikhar Mohan, the broader international calendar features heavy fixtures between the two nations.   

As Shikhar Mohan packs his bags for New Zealand to link up with the A team for the final two unofficial Tests, all eyes will be on the young Jharkhand left-hander to translate his domestic dominance onto foreign seaming tracks.

India A squad for four-day series vs New Zealand A

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (for the first match), Devdutt Padikkal, R Smaran, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Dhruv Jurel (capt, wk), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar, Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness), Shikhar Mohan (for the last two matches)

New Zealand A squad announced for India A series

Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket has unveiled a 19-member squad for the upcoming three-match unofficial Test series against India A, featuring 11 capped internationals. The multi-day fixtures kick off on October 24 in Lincoln, running parallel to the senior team's white-ball assignments.

To manage player workloads effectively, management will rotate the 19-player contingent across the matches, with each fixture featuring a 13-man matchday roster. The remaining six squad members will transition to domestic 50-over duties in the Ford Trophy, which begins on October 28.

Rhys Mariu is set to captain the side for the opening two encounters. Although he remains available for the final fixture, team leadership for the third match will be determined later. Newly centralized contracted player Nick Kelly is slated to feature in the third game. The experienced core includes Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Fisher, Mitchell Hay, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Henry Nicholls, and Tim Robinson.

Alongside Mariu, Dean Foxcroft will play all three matches, joined by a consistent group consisting of Matt Boyle, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Fraser Sheat, and Jarrod McKay.

New Zealand A squad for 1st match vs India A

Rhys Mariu (capt), Matt Boyle, Max Chu, Kristian Clarke, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.

New Zealand A squad for 2nd match vs India A

Rhys Mariu (capt), Matt Boyle, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Zak Gibson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Jayden Lennox, Jarrod McKay, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat.

New Zealand A squad for 3rd match vs India A

Adi Ashok, Matt Boyle, Max Chu (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Jarrod McKay, Cam Paul, Henry Nicholls, Fraser Sheat.

The schedule: