Snubbed From Asia Cup, THIS Star Player Gets A Surprising New Role News24 –
After being left out of India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025, Shreyas Iyer has found himself back in the thick of the action – this time as captain of the India A side set to face Australia A in a high-stakes red-ball and white-ball series on home soil.
While Iyer may have been at the center of sympathetic discussions after his puzzling omission from the Asia Cup T20 squad, he now has a fresh opportunity to prove his worth and perhaps remind the selectors of what they might have missed.
Leadership Role in Focus
With the Aussies set to arrive in India next week for two four-day games and three white-ball matches, Iyer’s return to the India A setup isn’t just about participation – it’s about leadership. The Mumbai-born batter has been named captain, reaffirming the management’s long-term faith in his abilities, even if his recent Asia Cup snub raised eyebrows.
Joining him as vice-captain and wicketkeeper is Dhruv Jurel, another rising name in Indian cricket. The series begins with two red-ball matches in Lucknow (September 16–19 and September 23–26), followed by three white-ball clashes in Kanpur on September 30, October 3, and October 5.
A Mixed Bag in Duleep Trophy
Iyer is currently turning out for West Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, where his outing so far has been modest. He managed just 25 runs in the first innings before being bowled by Khaleel Ahmed. While the innings was short-lived, selectors are unlikely to weigh it heavily, especially given his strong IPL form earlier this year and overall experience.
With the Asia Cup 2025 being hosted in the UAE starting September 9, Iyer’s absence from the T20 squad had become a major talking point – particularly since he was one of the top-performing batters in the IPL and looked fit and in rhythm. His inclusion in the red-ball setup now suggests the selectors still view him as a crucial part of the broader roadmap – potentially even for the home Test series against West Indies in October or the white-ball tour of Australia later this year.
Squad Packed with Youth and Promise
The India A squad features a healthy mix of domestic veterans and emerging stars. Alongside Iyer and Jurel, the lineup includes the in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, N Jagadeesan, and the explosive Devdutt Padikkal.
Among the all-rounders and bowlers, Nitish Reddy, Tanush Kotian, and Harsh Dubey will be eager to make an impression, while the pace attack will be led by Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Thakur, and Gurnoor Brar. Young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar also finds a place.
This series will serve as a crucial platform not just for Iyer but for others on the fringes of the national side to push for higher honors.
India A Squad:
Shreyas Iyer (C), Easwaran, Jagadeesan (WK), Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (VC & WK), Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Badoni, Nitish, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel, Manav Suthar, Yash Thakur.