India’s squad announcement for the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies has once again sparked discussions, not just about player form and injuries, but also about leadership roles within the national setup. The absence of Sarfaraz Khan due to injury and the omission of Shreyas Iyer from the red-ball squad raised eyebrows, especially since Iyer was simultaneously named captain of India A for their ODI series against Australia A.
Addressing the media in Dubai, chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that Iyer’s appointment should not be misread as a step towards him becoming India’s next ODI captain. Agarkar emphasised that the management’s current priority is stability in Tests and preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He noted that discussions about a change in ODI leadership have not even begun.
“I don’t think we have discussed the ODI format yet. Shreyas is a senior player; he captains his IPL franchise and has previously led India A. That doesn’t mean we are looking at him as a future Test or ODI captain. India A is where we test leadership qualities among many players,” Agarkar explained. He further added that the immediate focus is on Iyer regaining rhythm before India tours Australia later this year.
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Earlier in the day, the BCCI revealed that Iyer had requested time away from red-ball cricket to manage his recurring back issues, which stem from the surgery he underwent in the UK in 2023. While he has performed in short bursts, like during the recent Ranji Trophy, longer formats remain physically challenging. His withdrawal midway through India A’s second unofficial Test against Australia A, where Dhruv Jurel stepped in as captain, highlighted the management’s decision to monitor his workload carefully.
The timing of his India A captaincy naturally led to speculation that Iyer could be groomed as a successor to Rohit Sharma in ODIs. However, Agarkar dismissed such assumptions, underlining that Iyer is among several players being observed for leadership qualities. Stability, he said, remains the key heading into upcoming marquee events.
Iyer’s omission also came as a surprise, given Karun Nair’s inconsistent run during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England earlier this year. Many thought this series against the West Indies would be the perfect stage for Iyer’s return. Instead, India handed an opportunity to Devdutt Padikkal, who continues to impress with his domestic performances.
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For the upcoming India A series against Australia A in Kanpur starting September 30, Iyer will lead a young but talented squad. The lineup includes Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, and Vipraj Nigam. Later, reinforcements in Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh will bolster the squad once their Asia Cup duties are complete.
