In a crucial series set to unfold at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, Shreyas Iyer is poised to captain India ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’ in the first of two four-day matches starting this Tuesday. This marks a significant opportunity for the experienced middle-order batsman to reaffirm his prowess in red-ball cricket, especially after being out of the national Test squad.
Beyond Iyer, all eyes will also be on the seasoned 30-year-old Abhimanyu Easwaran. Despite his stellar and consistent performances in the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic first-class competition, Easwaran is still awaiting his much-deserved Test debut. He has been a part of the national Test contingent on five different overseas tours – England (2021), Bangladesh (2022), South Africa (2023-24), Australia (2024-25), and England again in 2025 – yet a spot in the playing XI has eluded him. His impressive domestic record, however, speaks volumes about his readiness for the highest level.
India ‘A’ head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar emphasized the importance of this series, stating, “It’s a fantastic chance for these players. Most of them have recently competed in the Duleep Trophy, so this serves as the natural progression in their cricketing journey.”
