5 current India A players who have never played for Team India

The India A team’s trip to Australia is heading towards its end with the 2^nd and final unofficial four-day Test between them and the home side, Australia A, all set to be played from 15 September. It has been a largely successful tour for the visitors as they managed to bag the quadrangular one-day series, which also featured South Africa A and Australia’s National Performance Squad.

Although they ended up on the losing side in the first unofficial Test against Australia A, there was a lot to take away with the margin of loss being just 3 wickets. Most of the players in the India A team have represented the senior team in at least one format such as Manish Pandey, Varun Aaron, Karun Nair and Naman Ojha among others.

However, there are a few players who are yet to make their respective international debuts. While some of them have managed to sneak into the national squad but didn’t get a game, others are yet to get a call-up.

Here are 5 India A players who have never played for Team India:

#5 Akhil Herwadkar

An opening batsman by trade, Akhil Herwadkar made his first-class debut back in 2011 at the age of just 17. However, he was quickly dropped from the Mumbai side after just one game and the southpaw only returned in the 2014/15 Ranji Trophy season.

Herwadkar’s comeback season saw decent returns from him as he notched up close to 400 runs in 6 matches. In the following season, the young opener played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s 41^st Ranji triumph as he cracked 879 runs in 11 games with 3 centuries and 4 fifties.

Akhil Herwadkar is one of the players in the current India A team not to have played international cricket. Moreover, he has never even made it to a Team India squad in any of the three formats unlike most of his teammates.

However, if the left-handed batsman continues to impress in domestic cricket, he may not be far from making the cut.

#4 Jayant Yadav

Jayant Yadav was included in the squad for the Zimbabwe tour

Jayant Yadav is an all-rounder who plays his domestic cricket for the Haryana side. The Delhi-born cricketer began his first-class career in the 2011/12 season of the Ranji Trophy. He bagged 6 wickets on debut against Gujarat and allowed his team to secure a massive win by 140 runs.

Keeping up to his all-rounder tag, Yadav smashed a double century in the following season against Karnataka which was also his maiden ton. Since then, the off-spinner has scored more than 1500 first-class runs and grabbed over 100 wickets.

His consistent domestic performances earned Jayant Yadav a place in Team India’s squad for the tour to Zimbabwe earlier this year. However, the 26-year old was one of the unlucky players to miss out on an opportunity to represent the country in international cricket.

Considering that he is part of the India A team, though, there is every possibility that Yadav may get his chance soon enough.

#3 Shahbaz Nadeem

Shahbaz Nadeem has been a known face in the IPL (Image Credit – ESPNCricinfo)

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem has been part of the Jharkhand Ranji team since the 2004/05 season and has been a consistent performer for them. In a first-class career which has seen him play 71 matches, Nadeem has picked up 246 wickets with best innings figures of 7 for 45.

The Bokaro-born cricketer, though, has been at his best in the past year or so and emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the 2015/16 Ranji Trophy season with a staggering 51 wickets. In the past few years, Shahbaz Nadeem has also been a decent performer in IPL cricket while playing for Delhi Daredevils.

Despite his heroics for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy, Nadeem has not been able to move the selectors into including him in the Indian team. But a chance may be around the corner if the left-arm spinner can remain consistent enough.

#2 Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur travelled with the Indian team for their West Indies tour

Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur has been among the most impressive fast bowlers in the Indian domestic circuit over the past couple of years or so. One impressive season after another has helped Thakur rise up the ranks and he was one of the top contributors of his team’s Ranji Trophy success in the 2015/16 season.

Not only did he claim 41 wickets overall but also produced a scintillating bowling performance in the final with figures of 5 for 26 in Saurashtra’s second innings to hand Mumbai an innings victory. Shardul Thakur’s efforts paid off as he was named in India’s Test squad for their tour to West Indies.

Unfortunately for the 24-year old, though, he could not find a place in the playing XI there and has now been dropped from the squad for the home series against New Zealand. With most of the cricket for India’s upcoming season scheduled to played at home, Thakur may find it difficult to earn another call-up.

#1 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is yet to break into the Indian team despite great domestic performances

Shreyas Iyer is undoubtedly the most exciting young talent to have emerged out of India’s domestic cricket in recent times. The Mumbai batsman has been a revelation with the bat and has been his team’s highest run-getter in the past two Ranji Trophy seasons.

In fact, Mumbai’s epic 41^st triumph in India’s premier domestic tournament would not have been possible without Iyer’s table-topping run tally of 1321 runs. To add to it, the youngster also bagged the Man of the Match award in the final against Saurashtra for his 117 off 142 balls.

The swashbuckling batsman may be on top of his game but has still not been able to force the national selectors to give him a spot in the Indian team. However, seeing the way Shreyas Iyer has been performing, he may not be far from his international debut.