English
New Delhi: Star India cricketer Karun Nair’s exclusion from India A squad for the two unofficial four-day matches against Australia A in Lucknow has fueled speculation that the 33-year-old batter may have already played his last match for India.
Once considered as a bright prospect in Test career, his absence now stands as perhaps the clearest indication that he has slipped completely out of the selectors’ plans.
The Karnataka batter made a return earlier this year in the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy, a five-match Test series in England, almost nine years after his previous appearance. However, the comeback proved disappointing, as he managed to score only one half-century in six innings, missing what was likely his final chance to revive his Test career.
Nair, known for his triple century against England in 2016, was anticipated to be included in the India A squad as part of the long-format rebuilding process with the home Test season approaching. However, his absence is widely seen as an unofficial end to his international career.
However, Nair injured his finger during his last Test at The Oval, which also kept him out of the Maharaja T20 League. Whether this injury influenced his exclusion from the India A squad remains unclear, as the BCCI’s press release made no mention of his recovery status.
Instead, the selectors opted for a blend of upcoming and fringe players in the India A squad to take on Australia A. Shreyas Iyer, was left out of both the Asia Cup T20I squad and the Test team, has been appointed captain. He will lead the side in the two matches set to be played at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium from September 16–19 and September 23–26.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel, named as Iyer’s deputy. The young wicketkeeper-batter, who caught attention with his performance in the final Test against England, is still seen as a promising long-term option in red-ball cricket.
Dhruv Jurel was another key inclusion, appointed as Iyer’s deputy. The young wicketkeeper-batter, who impressed in the final Test against England, continues to be regarded as a strong long-term prospect in red-ball cricket.
Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan, who came close to making his Test debut earlier this year, has been drafted into the squad after an impressive domestic run, highlighted by a 197 in the Duleep Trophy semifinal. He will be joined in the batting lineup by Devdutt Padikkal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Delhi skipper Ayush Badoni, who receives his first India A call-up, forming a youthful yet exciting batting unit.
The bowling attack brings together both experience and fresh faces. Star India pacers Prasidh Krishna and Khaleel Ahmed will lead the bowling unit alongside Punjab’s tall left-armer Gurnoor Brar and Vidarbha’s Yash Thakur. In the spin department, Vidarbha’s record-breaking Harsh Dubey, Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian, and Rajasthan’s Manav Suthar add depth to the lineup.
Meanwhile, the Australia A squad which includes Test aspirants and proven players, including Todd Murphy, Cooper Connolly, Nathan McSweeney, and Sam Konstas.
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Manav Suthar, Yash Thakur.
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