Jharkhand batter Shikhar Mohan has earned a place in the India A squad for the final two four-day matches against New Zealand A, following an impressive run of performances in domestic cricket. The 21-year-old left-hander’s inclusion was confirmed on October 23, 2026, as the selectors rewarded his consistent scoring across multiple competitions. Mohan will join the touring squad for the second and third matches of the three-game series.
The opportunity provides the young batter with a chance to showcase his ability in overseas conditions and strengthen his case for future national selection. Mohan’s performances in the Ranji Trophy have played a significant role in his selection. During the 2025-26 season, he scored 613 runs in 12 innings, including a double-century. His tally highlighted his ability to bat for long periods and produce substantial contributions in first-class cricket.
The left-hander has maintained that momentum in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. He has accumulated 297 runs in two matches at an impressive average of 99.00. His performances include a 143 against Kerala, followed by scores of 27 and 127 against Maharashtra. Mohan also delivered in important domestic fixtures.
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In the Duleep Trophy final in September 2026, he scored a half-century in each innings for East Zone against South Zone. He continued his strong run in the Irani Cup in October, contributing 60 runs in the first innings for Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir. These performances across the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup have strengthened his credentials as a promising batting prospect.
🚨 Jharkhand opener Shikhar Mohan earns his maiden India A call-up after back-to-back Ranji Trophy hundreds. 🇮🇳🏏
The 21-year-old replaces KL Rahul for the final two four-day matches against New Zealand A. 🔥
@pratyush93_raj ✍️
https://t.co/AzCTgTZs15
— TOI Sports (@toisports) October 23, 2026
Dhruv Jurel will lead India A during the four-day series. Rishabh Pant, initially selected for the tour, was ruled out of the first two matches because of a left-side strain. Kumar Kushagra replaced him for those games, while Pant remains part of the squad subject to fitness. The opening match begins on October 24 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. The second game will take place in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3, before the teams return to Bert Sutcliffe Oval for the third match from November 7 to 10.
Mohan’s inclusion adds another left-handed batter to a lineup featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal and B Sai Sudharsan. The series offers players on the fringes of the senior national team an important opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for higher-level cricket.
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India A full squad for the four-day series against New Zealand A: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, R Smaran, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (captain and wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar, Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness) and Shikhar Mohan (for the final two matches).
