The exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the India A squad for the England tour has sparked outrage among fans, fueling speculation about his future in the Test team, especially with Gautam Gambhir potentially at the helm. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the 18-member India A squad for the upcoming tour of England, with Abhimanyu Easwaran named as captain and Dhruv Jurel as vice-captain. This announcement has been met with mixed reactions, primarily due to the omission of Iyer, a player who many believed deserved a spot.
Iyer's exclusion is particularly surprising considering his decent performance in the recent Ranji Trophy season, where he scored 480 runs in just 7 innings. Furthermore, coach Gautam Gambhir had previously emphasized Iyer's critical role in India's ODI setup, raising questions about the rationale behind this decision. While Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are set to join the squad later, fans feel a provision could have been made for Iyer as well.
Adding to the controversy, initial reports suggested that Gautam Gambhir would coach the India A team. However, it has now emerged that Hrishikesh Kanitkar is likely to be in charge. This uncertainty, coupled with Iyer's exclusion, has led to fan speculation that Iyer's future in the Test team might be uncertain if Gambhir remains coach.
The India A squad boasts a strong batting lineup, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Sarfaraz Khan. The bowling attack is also well-rounded, featuring Shardul Thakur, who makes a comeback to India's red-ball plans, along with other promising talents like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar.
The India A team is scheduled to play two First-Class matches against the England Lions and a match against the senior Indian team. These matches are crucial for players to showcase their skills and stake a claim for a spot in the main team.
The omission of Iyer has definitely raised eyebrows, especially considering that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from Test cricket. With India needing experienced batsmen, fans feel that Iyer could have been a valuable asset to the team. While there's still no clarity if Gambhir will be the coach, the current scenario has led fans to believe that Iyer's Test future is uncertain.