**Unofficial ODI: Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma Falter Against Australia A**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | October 3, 2025 | 03:23 PM*
In the second unofficial ODI against Australia A at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, Indian batsmen Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma faced early setbacks, impacting India A’s chase.
Abhishek Sharma, who was the top run-scorer in the Asia Cup 2025, was dismissed for a golden duck. He was sent back to the pavilion on the very first ball of the second over by Australia A’s Jack Edwards. This early dismissal triggered a collapse, as Prabhsimran Singh (1) and captain Shreyas Iyer also fell cheaply, leaving India A struggling at 17 for 3.
Captain Shreyas Iyer, who had started the series in great form with a brilliant 110 off 83 balls in the opener on October 1, could only manage eight runs this time. Edwards once again rattled the stumps, putting Australia A firmly in command.
Playing his 158th List A game, Iyer has amassed 6,451 runs at an average of over 48, including 15 centuries and 39 half-centuries. In ODIs, he has played 70 matches for India, scoring 2,845 runs at an average of 48.22, with 5 centuries and 22 fifties, maintaining a strike rate of 100.00. Earlier this year, he finished as India’s highest run-scorer during the Champions Trophy, amassing 243 runs at an average of 48.60.
**Abhishek Sharma’s Recent Form and Career Prospects**
Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer in the Asia Cup 2025, scoring 314 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 44.85 and a remarkable strike rate of 200. His stellar performance earned him the Player of the Series award. However, he missed the first India A vs Australia A game, where India A won comprehensively by 171 runs, posting a massive total of 413/6.
In his career, Abhishek has played 62 List A matches, scoring 2,014 runs at an average above 33, including four centuries and eight fifties. Despite his talent, cementing a spot in India’s ODI XI remains challenging with established openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill ahead in the pecking order, and other contenders like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad also vying for positions.
As India A looks ahead, both Iyer and Abhishek will be eager to bounce back and strengthen their claims for selection in the upcoming ODI series in Australia.
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