Star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer who missed his spot in India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, will likely to lead India A in the upcoming two red-ball matches against Australia A. The Australia A team is set to travel to India next week to play two four-day red-ball matches and three one-day matches. The two unofficial Tests will take place at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, and Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium will host the three unofficial ODIs.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce India A’s squad for the home series. Cricbuzz reported that Iyer is likely to be part of the India A squad for the upcoming series against the Australians. Iyer, who was not considered for a place in the India A squad for two red-ball matches against England Lions in May-June, is currently playing in the semifinal of the Duleep Trophy 2025 for West Zone against Central Zone in Bengaluru.
As per the available information, the Mumbai-based cricketer is likely to get a “prominent role in the side – captaincy or otherwise".
Apart from Iyer, top performers in the ongoing Duleep Trophy matches in Bengaluru may be considered for selection along with the likes of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and top-order batters Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has also captained India A in the past, and B Sai Sudharsan.
Players like Narayan Jagadeesan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and RCB skipper Rajat Patidar will likely to be part of the squad. Jagadeesan, who was announced as Rishabh Pant's replacement in the fifth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, scored 197 runs for South Zone in the first innings of their Duleep Trophy 2025 match against North Zone on September 5, whereas Gaikwad top-scored for West Zone by amassing a total of 184 runs against Central Zone in Bengaluru on Friday.
Patidar on the other hand, amassed 125 and 66 runs in the two innings of the quarterfinal match played last week and was batting on 47 runs from 59 balls in the first innings of the ongoing semifinal match against West Zone on Friday evening.
While Gaikwad and Jagadeesan are yet to play a Test match for Team India, Patidar featured in three red-ball matches against the English team last year.