Shreyas Iyer misses 2nd unofficial Test; Dhruv Jurel appointed India A captain

India A will enter their second unofficial Test against Australia A with a change in leadership, as Shreyas Iyer.

Who captained the first match, has opted out of the four-day fixture starting September 23 in Lucknow. In Iyer’s absence, vice-captain Dhruv Jurel will take over as captain. The wicketkeeper-batter has already impressed in the series, scoring a determined 140 in the first match, highlighting his credentials as both a dependable run-scorer and a potential leader.

A source told the Times of India, “Shreyas is taking a break and has returned to Mumbai. He has informed the selectors that he won’t be able to play in the second four-day match against Australia A. However, he remains in contention for a middle-order spot when the squad is picked for the West Indies series.”

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

No replacement has been added to the squad for the second Test, but India A will be strengthened by the return of senior players KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj, who missed the opening fixture. Their presence provides additional depth to a squad primarily aimed at giving younger players valuable experience.

For Iyer, the withdrawal comes at a crucial stage of his career. Having missed India’s Asia Cup campaign and still seeking consistency in red-ball cricket, he remains in contention for a Test recall during India’s upcoming home series against the West Indies, beginning October 2 in Ahmedabad, which also marks the start of the new World Test Championship cycle.

The second unofficial Test at Ekana Stadium offers India A’s youngsters another chance to compete against quality opposition, while Jurel gets an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills ahead of the three-match one-day series that follows.