Shreyas Iyer Named India A Captain for Australia A Series, Clears Path for Test Comeback: Aakash Chopra

Shreyas Iyer may have missed out on selection for the Asia Cup 2025, but the 30-year-old batter has been handed the India A captaincy for two multi-day matches against Australia A, starting September 16 in Lucknow. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes this move could pave the way for Iyer’s return to the Test side.

Iyer, who last played a Test in 2024, was sidelined due to injury and his reluctance to feature in the Ranji Trophy. He was later dropped from the central contracts list but clawed his way back through strong white-ball performances.

Chopra pointed out that India’s No.3 and No.6 slots in Tests remain unsettled, and Iyer’s elevation as captain signals selectors’ interest in him for the longer format. He also noted that Karun Nair, despite a brief comeback against England, may have run out of chances after inconsistent performances.

“Unfortunately, it looks like you won’t see Karun Nair playing further. The selectors seem to have moved past him. Shreyas, meanwhile, looks set to play two of the three formats, with a strong chance of returning for the West Indies and South Africa series,” Chopra said.