Jharkhand left-hand batter Shikhar Mohan has been added to the India A squad for the final two four-day matches of their series against New Zealand A. The 21-year-old's inclusion was confirmed on October 23, 2026, and he will link up with the touring group ahead of the second and third games of the three-match series.
Dhruv Jurel captains the India A side for the tour. Rishabh Pant, who was originally named in the squad, has been ruled out of the first two four-day matches due to a left side strain, with Kumar Kushagra coming in as his replacement for those games. Pant remains available subject to fitness.
The opening four-day match begins October 24 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, followed by the second game in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3, and the third back at Bert Sutcliffe Oval from November 7 to 10.
Why has Shikhar Mohan been picked for India A?
Mohan's sustained output across domestic formats made him a compelling case for the selectors. In Ranji Trophy 2025-26, he accumulated 613 runs across 12 innings, a tally that featured a double-century and demonstrated his capacity to occupy the crease and build substantial scores at first-class level.
His form in the current Ranji Trophy season has been just as convincing. Mohan has scored 297 runs in two matches at an average of 99.00, with 143 against Kerala and scores of 27 and 127 against Maharashtra, placing him among the top run-getters in the competition at this early stage.
His performances in marquee domestic fixtures added further weight to his case. In the Duleep Trophy final in September 2026, Mohan contributed fifties in each innings for East Zone against South Zone. He then carried that form into the Irani Cup in October 2026, scoring 60 in the first innings for Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir. That sequence of results across three different competitions strengthened his claim for an India A berth.
What does Mohan's inclusion mean for the India A batting order?
Mohan's addition provides India A with a left-handed batting option for the final two matches of the series. The squad already features Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal and B Sai Sudharsan among its top-order options, giving the side considerable depth across the batting lineup.
His call-up for only the last two games indicates the selectors are keen to give him exposure in four-day conditions in New Zealand while managing the broader squad workload. The series against New Zealand A serves as preparation ahead of a senior Test assignment, making it a meaningful opportunity for players on the fringes of the national setup to strengthen their claims.
India A full squad for four-day series vs New Zealand A
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, R Smaran, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Dhruv Jurel (c & wk), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar, Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness), Shikhar Mohan (for last two matches).
