Day three of the unofficial Test between India A and Australia A in Lucknow turned into a test of character for the players. While Shreyas Iyer failed once again with the bat, Sai Sudharsan continued to impress with a composed half-century.
Rain Delays Play, Jagadeesan Falls Early
India A began the day at 116/1, but rain caused a delayed start. N Jagadeesan, who looked solid, was dismissed for 64 just before lunch. His wicket brought Iyer to the crease at 213/3.
Shreyas Iyer’s Poor Form Continues
Iyer, eyeing a comeback ahead of the West Indies series at home, lasted just 13 balls. He managed only 8 runs, including a boundary, before being trapped LBW by off-spinner Corey Rocchicoli.
This is Iyer’s third straight failure in red-ball cricket, following two low scores in the Duleep Trophy. He has already been left out of the Asia Cup squad and the England Test series.
Sai Sudharsan Shows Maturity
In contrast, Sudharsan looked confident. He scored 73 off 110 balls, hitting 10 boundaries. His innings ended when he attempted a reverse sweep and was dismissed by Cooper Connolly.
By the end of the post-lunch session, India A were 222/4, still far behind Australia A’s 532/6 declared.
Pressure Mounts on Iyer
With India set to host West Indies and South Africa in upcoming Test series, the middle-order spots are wide open. Unfortunately for Iyer, this isn’t the right time to be out of form.
His recent dismissals haven’t come from unplayable deliveries, which raises deeper concerns about his mindset and technique. These missed chances may seriously affect his comeback hopes.
Sudharsan Strengthens His Case
Meanwhile, youngsters like Sudharsan are making the most of their opportunities. His fifty adds weight to his growing reputation as one of India’s top future batting options.
India A still have batting depth, but all eyes remain on Iyer’s next outing. If he fails again, the selectors may consider moving forward without him.
