Dhruv Jurel to captain India A in Sri Lanka multi-day games; Auqib Nabi earns debut call-up
Synopsis
Dhruv Jurel leads a 14-man India A squad to Galle for two four-day games — a direct audition ahead of the senior Test team's WTC series in Sri Lanka in August. The standout pick: Auqib Nabi, the pacer who took 60 wickets to fire J&K to their first-ever Ranji Trophy title, now steps into the India A spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Dhruv Jurel named captain of India A for two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle , 25 June – 5 July 2025 .
Devdutt Padikkal appointed vice-captain; squad announced by selector Ajit Agarkar on 6 June .
Auqib Nabi earns maiden India A call-up after claiming 60 wickets — the most in the Ranji Trophy — en route to J&K's maiden Ranji title .
Vidarbha batter Aman Mokhade and Andhra batter Shaik Rasheed also receive first India A call-ups.
The fixtures serve as a red-ball preparation block ahead of the senior team's two-match WTC series in Sri Lanka in August .
Gaikwad , Badoni , Thakur , and Kamboj are already in Sri Lanka for the 50-over tri-series starting 9 June in Dambulla .
Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been named captain of the India A squad for two multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle, scheduled from 25 June to 5 July 2025. Jammu & Kashmir fast-bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi has earned a maiden call-up to the India A set-up, one of two first-timers in the 14-member squad.
Squad Composition and Key Appointments
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the squad on Saturday, 6 June, with Devdutt Padikkal appointed vice-captain. The batting unit features Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and N Jagadeesan, alongside Jurel and Padikkal. Vidarbha batter Aman Mokhade and Andhra batter Shaik Rasheed have also received maiden India A call-ups.
The pace attack includes Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurnoor Brar — the last of whom recently received a call-up to the senior Test squad for the ongoing one-off game against Afghanistan. Spin duties fall to leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, off-spinner Saransh Jain, and all-rounder Ayush Badoni.
Auqib Nabi's Landmark Call-Up
Nabi's inclusion is arguably the most significant selection in the squad. The Jammu & Kashmir pacer claimed 60 wickets this past Ranji Trophy season — finishing as the tournament's highest wicket-taker — and played a pivotal role in guiding J&K to their maiden Ranji Trophy title. Both Nabi and Ansari had been serving as net bowlers for the senior India team ahead of the Afghanistan Test in New Chandigarh, underlining the selectors' close watch on both players.
The Sri Lanka Context and WTC Build-Up
The four-day fixtures are designed to acclimatise India's emerging talent to spin-friendly conditions in Galle and to the red Kookaburra ball — the format used in overseas Tests. The assignment carries added strategic weight: the senior Test team is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in August for a two-match World Test Championship (WTC) series, making these games a direct audition for fringe players.
Notably, Gaikwad, Badoni, Thakur, and Kamboj are already on Sri Lankan soil, participating in India A's 50-over tri-series starting 9 June in Dambulla, before transitioning to the red-ball leg of the tour.
Full Squad
Dhruv Jurel (captain), Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Badoni, N Jagadeesan, Aman Mokhade, Shaik Rasheed, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Zeeshan Ansari.
With the WTC series looming, every session in Galle will be scrutinised by the senior selection panel.
Point of View
However, is Auqib Nabi: 60 Ranji wickets and a maiden title with J&K is a body of work that demands a higher stage, and Galle's spin-friendly surfaces will test whether his skill set translates to international conditions. The presence of Gaikwad and Gurnoor Brar — both on the fringes of the senior Test setup — means this tour is less a development exercise and more a competitive selection trial. India's WTC campaign leaves little room for acclimatisation errors in August; these four-day games are, in effect, the selectors' last look before the final squad is picked.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been named captain of India A for the Sri Lanka multi-day series?
Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been named captain of the India A squad for two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle, from 25 June to 5 July 2025. Devdutt Padikkal will serve as vice-captain.
Who is Auqib Nabi and why is his call-up significant?
Auqib Nabi is a fast-bowling all-rounder from Jammu & Kashmir who took 60 wickets in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy — the most by any bowler in the tournament — and was instrumental in J&K winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title. His India A call-up is his first, marking a major step up after his domestic breakthrough.
When and where will India A play the multi-day matches in Sri Lanka?
India A will play two four-day fixtures against Sri Lanka A in Galle, running from 25 June to 5 July 2025. The venue is known for its spin-friendly conditions, which is central to the tour's preparation objective.
Why are these matches important for Indian cricket?
The four-day games serve as a red-ball preparation block ahead of the senior Indian Test team's two-match World Test Championship series in Sri Lanka in August. Players in the India A squad are effectively auditioning for places in the senior squad.
Which players in the India A squad are already in Sri Lanka?
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Badoni, Yash Thakur, and Anshul Kamboj are already in Sri Lanka, participating in India A's 50-over tri-series that begins on 9 June in Dambulla before the red-ball leg of the tour.
