The India A squad were preparing to face Australia A in the 2nd unofficial Test at Lucknow. However, in a shocking turn of events, captain Shreyas Iyer pulled out of the game.
The first match between India and Australia A ended in a draw. India's standout batters were Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, both of whom notched up centuries.
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On the other hand, Iyer was dismissed LBW by Corey Rocchiccioli for just 8 runs -- his only innings in the match.
The second unofficial Test-playing XI saw Indian Test stars KL Rahul, Mohammad Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna return to action. The Sporting News examines the reason for Iyer's absence.
Shreyas Iyer leaves India A squad before series decider
The two-match unofficial Test series is currently tied 0-0, with an opportunity for both sides to clinch the win. While India saw a boost with the addition of Rahul and Siraj, Iyer's absence has confused fans and officials.
The Punjab Kings batter left the team just hours before the start of the match, which is concerning. According to a Times of India report, Iyer has opted to take a break, though the exact reason has not been revealed yet.
"Yes, 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," the report said.
Will Shreyas Iyer be selected for India vs West Indies Test series?
Iyer last featured for India during the 2025 Champions Trophy win earlier this year -- in the 50-over format. However, he has not been part of the Indian sides in the T20I or Test formats.
The Mumbai batter was overlooked for the England Test tour and also the recent Asia Cup 2025 tournament. While he had an impressive IPL 2025 season, scoring 604 runs in 17 matches, the BCCI selection did not consider him part of their plans.
With the India Test squad against West Indies set to be announced this week, the TOI source noted that Iyer is still in the fray.
"He remains in fray for a spot in the middle-order when the selectors meet to pick the squad for the West Indies series," the source added.
However, it might still be difficult for him to break into the red-ball team, even with the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
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