BCCI Announces India A Squad For Red-Ball Series Against Australia A

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) didn’t just drop a routine squad announcement — it effectively signposted the future of India’s Test middle order. Likewise, on 6 September 2025, the selection committee named a 15-member India A side for the upcoming two-match red-ball series against Australia A.

Shreyas Iyer will captain the squad, with wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel as his deputy. Yes, you heard that right! The man who hasn’t played a Test since February 2024 has been given the reins of India’s second-string side — a clear message that a door to the Test team is still ajar.

Iyer’s appointment is much more than a ceremonial nod. He last featured in the Test arena in Visakhapatnam in February 2024, and this series serves as a dress rehearsal before India hosts West Indies in October.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who missed the latter part of the England tour due to a knee injury, also returns. Moreover, established Test players KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj are on standby; they will join only for the second match.

Full India A Squad for the Red-ball Series

These people have mixed the young and the experienced and have sprinkled young talent with those who have already lent their shoulders to international cricket. Here’s the squad:

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Key talking points

• Leadership shift: The red-ball series marks a fresh start for Iyer. After being sidelined from the Test side and missing the Asia Cup, he now has a chance to revive his red-ball career. A good run here could push him back into the middle-order contention.
• Reddy’s comeback: Nitish Kumar Reddy’s inclusion after his knee injury underscores the selectors’ faith in his all-round abilities. He bowled extended spells at the Centre of Excellence to prove his fitness.
• Double duty for Jurel: Dhruv Jurel isn’t just a wicket-keeper; he’s also vice-captain. It’s a signal that the management sees leadership potential in the young gloveman.
• Bowling depth: With Prasidh Krishna returning and the likes of Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Thakur in the pace department, India A have a varied attack. Spin options include Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar and Tanush Kotian, all adept at exploiting subcontinental pitches.
• Senior reinforcements: KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj will only feature in the second game, hinting that they might use the outing to get red-ball miles ahead of the West Indies Tests.

Schedule and venues

Both red-ball matches will be played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. According to the BCCI release, the first multi-day match runs from 16 – 19 September 2025, and the second from 23 – 26 September 2025, with a 09:30 a.m. start each day.

After the red-ball series, the teams will lock horns in three one-day matches on 30 September, 3 October and 5 October in Kanpur.

Fixture list for the red-ball series

• 1st Multi-Day Match: 16 – 19 September 2025, Lucknow (India A vs Australia A)
• 2nd Multi-Day Match: 23 – 26 September 2025, Lucknow (India A vs Australia A)

Why does this Red-Ball Series matter?

In Test cricket, opportunities are like gold dust. Iyer hasn’t crossed 35 in any of his last 13 Test innings, and his absence from the Asia Cup sparked debate. The selectors have essentially handed him and Reddy a “last audition” before the West Indies series.

A string of runs here could thrust him ahead of contenders such as Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal in the pecking order. The series also offers glimpses into India’s future bowling plans.

Harsh Dubey topped the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy wicket charts, while left-armers Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Thakur can bowl at a good pace. Prasidh Krishna’s return after the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy and his ODI stint adds further intrigue.

The Australians, too, will treat this as more than a warm-up. Their young batters – including Jack Clayton and Campbell Kellaway in the Australia A squad – will view slow Indian pitches as an examination ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2026. So expect competitive cricket, not a gentle tour match.

Amit Mishra’s POV

Having a history of watching too many India A tours, I view this red-ball series not only as a prelude to an ODI leg but as a test of fire for the future generation of India. Making Shreyas Iyer a captain is like giving a proven actor the leading part in a stage performance at the brink of a blockbuster movie – he has to be shown that he can shine in the limelight again.

Further, the comeback subplot of the story is introduced by the return of Nitish Kumar Reddy, whereas the rise of Dhruv Jurel indicates the grooming of the leaders of tomorrow. The speed measure, Krishna and a cluster of left-armers appear to be balanced; the spin-stroke is untried yet thrilling.

My sense is that the matches will be fiercely contested because both teams know the only way to future Test caps is through gritty four-day runs and wickets. Whether Iyer and his men can seize this chance will determine if September in Lucknow becomes a turning point in India’s red-ball narrative.

FAQs

1. When will the India A vs Australia A red-ball series be played?
   The two multi-day matches will be held in Lucknow from 16–19 September and 23–26 September 2025.
2. Who is captaining India A in the red-ball series?
   Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer will lead India A, with Dhruv Jurel serving as vice-captain.
3. Which senior players could join the squad?
   KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj, who are regulars in tests, will only be used in the second match, after which they will substitute two players.
4. What’s the significance of this red-ball series for Shreyas Iyer?
   Iyer hasn’t played a Test since February 2024 and hasn’t scored beyond 35 in his last 13 Test innings. This series is seen as a critical audition to reclaim a spot in India’s Test middle order.
5. Where will the one-day games be played after the red-ball series?
   The three one-dayers between the sides will be held at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on 30 September, 3 October and 5 October 2025.