Shreyas Iyer's hopes for India Test debut dashed as Mumbai selects Sarfaraz Khan for Ranji Trophy; New Zealand series in doubt

Shreyas Iyer's first-innings half-century in the recent Irani Cup match proved to be a bittersweet moment as it did not help his chances of returning to the Indian Test team. Despite his impressive performance, Iyer is not expected to be selected for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. The Mumbai cricketer has been included in the squad for the opening two Ranji Trophy matches, making it unlikely for him to make a comeback to the national side. On the other hand, Sarfaraz Khan is likely to hold on to his spot in the Indian team, further dampening Iyer's hopes of donning the Test whites again.

Iyer was dropped from the Indian Test team earlier this year, during the home series against England, after a string of poor performances. After his back-to-back knocks of 80s on the tour of Bangladesh in November 2022, which earned a lot of applause, Iyer managed just 187 runs in 12 innings across seven Test matches at 17 with not a single fifty.

The 29-year-old, however, did little to prove the selectors wrong after managing just 154 runs for India D in the Duleep Trophy campaign last month, which comprised two fifties and two dismissals for a duck. He did score a fifty again in the Irani Cup last week, but was dismissed for just eight in the second innings against the Rest of India.

With Iyer being picked for the Ranji Trophy openers for Mumbai, he is unlikely to be part of the India Test squad for the series against New Zealand. But the domestic red-ball tournament will certainly provide him an opportunity, yet again, to show that does deserve a spot in the Indian Test team.

Defending champions Mumbai face Baroda in an away fixture from October 11, while they face Maharashtra at home from October 18, which will coincide with the India-New Zealand first Test in Bengaluru from October 16.

According to a report in PTI, Sarfaraz, who smashed a match-winning and record-equalling double-century, en route to 222 in the Irani Cup match, is expected to retain his place in the India squad for the New Zealand Tests. The Mumbai batter, who was not named for the Mumbai's Ranji opener against Baroda on October 11, will be at the National Cricket Academy, according to sources.

Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad for first two matches: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (WK), Sidhaant Addhatrao (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan, Royston Dias.