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Explained: Why Shreyas Iyer Is Not Part Of India A Squad For Unofficial ODIs Against Australia A

Aashay Chopade

Shreyas Iyer in Champions Trophy (Source: AFP)Shreyas Iyer in Champions Trophy (Source: AFP)

Shreyas Iyer has been the talk of the town since his superb show in the Champions Trophy and IPL 2025. He has emerged as a dependable batter and a charismatic leader, and his exclusion from India's squad for the Asia Cup 2025 created a lot of buzz.

Is Shreyas Iyer's Non-Selection In India A Squad For Unofficial ODIs Unfair?

The cricketer has now been excluded from the India A squad for the three unofficial ODIs against Australia A. So, is this unfair to Shreyas Iyer again? Let's find out.

Australia A will start their tour of India with two unofficial Tests. The first game will be played on September 16, and Shreyas Iyer is the captain of that side. A good performance in those two Tests against Australia A could help Shreyas Iyer get a Test recall, a format in which he had least featured for India in February 2024.

India's next Test assignment is against the West Indies, and the first game will be played from October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Now, around the same time, India A will play three unofficial ODIs against Australia A. So, these are clear indications that selectors are looking to bring back Shreyas Iyer in the Test fold, and hence, they have not selected him for the ODIs against Australia A.

Shreyas Iyer - An Established ODI Star, Aiming For Test Return

Also, as far as Shreyas Iyer's performance and future in the 50-over format is concerned, there is no doubt that he is one of the top ODI players for India currently. He was the leading run-scorer for India in the victorious Champions Trophy campaign as well, and plays an important role at number four.

Thus, he is a certainty in the ODI side and will be part of the team that will tour Australia in late October. However, as of now, selectors seem focused on trying him out in the red-ball format, and his appointment as India A Test captain means that he is one of the front-runners to make his comeback in the West Indies series.

Thus, Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the India A squad for the Australia A unofficial ODIs is not a bad sign for the cricketer. In fact, it is an indication that he is part of India's plans in the Test team as well, along with the ODIs.

The India A ODI matches are an opportunity for players who are on the fringes to impress selectors. Shreyas Iyer is already an established 50-over format player, and thus, the three ODIs against Australia A would help India strengthen their bench strength further.