Dhruv Jurel to lead India A in multi‑day games in Sri Lanka; Auqib Nabi earns call‑up
New Delhi, June 6
Wicketkeeper‑batter Dhruv Jurel has been named captain of the India A squad for the upcoming two multi‑day matches in Sri Lanka, while Jammu & Kashmir fast bowling all‑rounder Auqib Nabi has earned a maiden call‑up to the set-up.
The Ajit Agarkar‑led selection committee announced the squad on Saturday, with Devdutt Padikkal appointed as the vice‑captain. India A will play two four‑day fixtures against Sri Lanka A from June 25 to July 5 in Galle, ahead of the Test team visiting the country for a two-game World Test Championship series in August.
The priority will be to acclimatise to spin-friendly conditions and getting used to the red Kookaburra ball. Alongside Jurel and Padikkal, the batting unit includes Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and N Jagadeesan. Vidarbha batter Aman Mokhade and Andhra batter Shaik Rasheed have also earned maiden call-ups to the India A squad.
The bowling attack comprises of Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurnoor Brar, who recently got a call-up to the Test team for the ongoing one-off game against Afghanistan. Auqib's call-up is significant, considering he got 60 wickets to become the highest wicket-taker while guiding Jammu and Kashmir to their maiden Ranji Trophy triumph earlier this year.
Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari and off-spinner Saransh Jain along with all-rounder Ayush Badoni will handle spin bowling duties. Auqib and Zeeshan were the net bowlers in the Indian team to prepare for the ongoing Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Gaikwad, Badoni, Thakur, and Kamboj are already in Sri Lanka due to India 'A' playing in the 50-over tri-series starting on June 9 in Dambulla.
India A squad for multi-day games in Sri Lanka: Dhruv Jurel (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, N Jagadeesan, Aman Mokhade, Shaik Rasheed, and Zeeshan Ansari
— IANS
Reader Comments
Auqib Nabi's story is a true underdog tale. From Kashmir to leading the Ranji Trophy wicket charts – this is what Indian cricket is all about. I hope he gets a proper run in the XI and not just used as a net bowler. The system needs to reward domestic performers.
Happy to see Ruturaj Gaikwad in the A team setup. He's been consistent in domestic cricket and deserves a look-in for the Test side. The Sri Lanka tour is a perfect opportunity to test our young spinners against quality opposition. Let's hope they use the conditions well! 😊
A well-balanced squad! Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal have been knocking on the doors of the Test team. I'm a bit worried about the lack of experience in the bowling attack, but hopefully, these multi-day games will prepare them for the challenges of Test cricket. Good luck to the boys!
Good to see India building strong depth. The focus on preparing for spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka shows smart planning for the Test series. Auqib Nabi is an exciting prospect – his Ranji performances were impressive. Looking forward to seeing if he can repeat that at the next level.
One concern: why no senior spinners like Kuldeep Yadav or R Ashwin to guide these young players? It's an A team tour meant for development, of course, but a bit of experience in the spin department would have helped the younger lot learn. Still, exciting times for Indian cricket! 🏏