Iyer’s Struggles Continue in Crucial Australia A Match
NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s quest to reclaim a spot in India’s Test squad has hit another roadblock. The India A captain was dismissed for a mere eight runs by Corey Rocchiccioli on Day 3 of the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Lucknow.
Returning to competitive cricket after an absence of over three months, the star batter faced only 13 deliveries before being trapped LBW in the 62nd over.
Iyer’s entry came in the 59th over, following Sai Sudharsan’s dismissal for a well-made 73 runs. Despite hitting one boundary during his brief stay at the crease, his innings ended prematurely, adding to a worrying pattern of low scores.
The right-hander’s recent form has been a significant concern, with previous scores of just 25 and 12 in the Duleep Trophy. His last substantial innings dates back to early June, an unbeaten 87 in an Indian Premier League 2025 Qualifier 2. His most recent appearance in a Test match for India was against England in February 2024, with his last international outing being the Champions Trophy final in March.
Australia A Dominates with the Bat
Earlier in the match, Australia A amassed a formidable total of 532/6 declared, showcasing strong batting performances. Centuries from Sam Konstas and an unbeaten 123 from Josh Phillippe were the highlights of their commanding innings.
India A’s response started promisingly, with openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Narayan Jagadeesan forging an 88-run partnership before Liam Scott made the first breakthrough, dismissing Easwaran. Jagadeesan and Sudharsan then built a 49-run stand for the second wicket, which was broken by Xavier Bartlett.
The third-wicket partnership saw Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal add 76 runs before Cooper Connolly ended Sudharsan’s impressive innings on 73.
As India A looks to their second innings, Iyer will be under immense pressure to deliver a significant performance. He is keenly eyeing a return to the senior India Test squad for the upcoming series against West Indies, scheduled to begin on October 2 in Ahmedabad. A strong showing is crucial for him to press his case for national selection once again.