Shreyas Iyer's Test Comeback Bid Stumbles with Low Score Against Australia A

NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s struggle with form continued as the India A captain was dismissed for just eight runs by Corey Rocchiccioli on Day 3 of the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Lucknow. The star batter, returning to competitive cricket after over three months, was trapped LBW in the 62nd over after facing 13 deliveries.Iyer walked in during the 59th over after Sai Sudharsan fell for 73. He struck one boundary before his brief stay ended.The right-hander’s recent form has been worrying, with scores of 25 and 12 in the Duleep Trophy. His last notable innings came in early June — an unbeaten 87 in Indian Premier League 2025 Qualifier 2. He last featured in a Test against England in February 2024, and his most recent international appearance was in the Champions Trophy final in March.Batting first, Australia A piled up a commanding 532/6 declared, built on centuries from Sam Konstas and Josh Phillippe, with Phillippe unbeaten on 123.India A began well, with openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Narayan Jagadeesan adding 88 before Liam Scott removed Easwaran. Jagadeesan and Sudharsan then put on 49 for the second wicket until Xavier Bartlett dismissed Jagadeesan. The third-wicket stand between Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal fetched 76 before Cooper Connolly ended Sudharsan’s innings on 73.Iyer will hope to make amends in the second innings, should India A bat again, as he eyes a return to the India Test squad for the upcoming series against West Indies, starting October 2 in Ahmedabad.