Shreyas Iyer sidelined for 2nd unofficial Test, Dhruv Jurel to captain India A

India A will head into their second unofficial Test against Australia A with a new captain, as Shreyas Iyer, who led the side in the opening match, has opted out of the four-day game starting September 23 in Lucknow.

Vice-captain Dhruv Jurel will take over leadership duties in Iyer’s absence. The wicketkeeper-batter has already impressed in the series, scoring 140 in the first Test, establishing himself as both a reliable batsman and a promising leader.

A source told the Times of India, “Shreyas is taking a break and has returned to Mumbai. He won’t be available for the second four-day match against Australia A, but he remains in contention for a middle-order spot for the upcoming West Indies series.”

The first unofficial Test ended in a thrilling high-scoring draw. Australia A declared at 532/6, powered by centuries from Sam Konstas and Josh Phillippe. India A responded with 531/7, thanks to hundreds from Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal, while Iyer struggled, scoring just eight runs.

Although no new player has been added for the second game, India A will be bolstered by the return of senior stars KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj, who missed the first Test. Their inclusion adds experience and depth to a squad focused on giving young players valuable exposure.

For Iyer, the decision to skip the second Test comes at a pivotal point in his career. Having missed India’s Asia Cup campaign and seeking consistent form in red-ball cricket, he remains under consideration for a Test return during India’s home series against the West Indies, starting October 2 in Ahmedabad, which also marks the start of the new World Test Championship cycle.

The second unofficial Test at Ekana Stadium provides India A’s youngsters another chance to test themselves against quality opposition, while Jurel has the opportunity to showcase his leadership skills ahead of the three-match one-day series that follows.