Cheteshwar Pujara named India ‘A’ captain; Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer among others picked

Cheteshwar Pujara has played 27 test matches for India, but was rested for the last match against Bangladesh. (Source: Reuters)

Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has been picked to lead the India A squad for the two four-day matches against Australia A in July-August.

In its aim to promote young talent, the selection committee on Monday announced a 15-member squad that will play the four-day matches slated between July 22-25 and July 29-August 1 in Chennai.

Pujara, 27, who has represented India seniors in 27 Test matches, will be leading a team full of both experience and youth.

Upcoming talents like Karnataka batsman Lokesh Rahul (played two Tests for India seniors), Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer (created quite an impact in the IPL season gone by), Shardul Thakur and Tamil Nadu off-spinner Baba Aparajith have been given a go to prove their worth.

The bowling department will be bolstered by the experienced Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha apart from Shreyas Gopal and Aparajith.

Players like Tamil Nadu batsman Abhinav Mukund, Rajasthan off-spinner Karun Nair and wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha will also have a chance to make their presence felt for a future look in in the senior squad.

Team: Cheteshwar Pujara (capt), Lokesh Rahul, Abhinav Mukund, Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Naman Ojha, Vijay Shankar, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Shardul Thakur, Varun Aaron, Abhimanyu Mithun, Umesh Yadav, Shreyas Gopal, Baba Aparajith.