Shikhar Mohan, the 21-year-old Jharkhand left-hand batter, has been called up to the India A squad for the final two four-day matches of the three-match series against New Zealand A, ESPNcricinfo reported on Friday, October 23. Mohan will replace KL Rahul, who will play only the first four-day match before linking up with the India ODI team, the report said.

Source: ESPNcricinfo — Shikhar Mohan in India A squad for last two four-dayers against New Zealand A (Oct 23, 2026)

A source familiar with the development told IANS on Thursday that Mohan would be with the India A team from the second game onwards, as changes were expected with a few players also part of the ODI series against New Zealand — KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj have been named for the first three ODIs, while Auqib Nabi and Kumar Kushagra have been picked for the last two games of the five-match ODI series.

A rapid rise through domestic cricket

After his 613-run Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, Mohan has started the current season as the first centurion of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27, hitting 143 against Kerala before scores of 27 and 127 against Maharashtra, Latestly reported. He also scored half-centuries in both innings for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in September and, earlier this month, made 60 in the first innings for Rest of India in their Irani Cup win over Jammu & Kashmir, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The India A side is captained by Dhruv Jurel. Rishabh Pant, originally named in the squad, has been ruled out of the first two four-day matches with a left side strain, with Kumar Kushagra coming in as his replacement for those games, while Pant remains available subject to fitness, CricTracker reported. The second four-day match is scheduled in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3, with the third in Lincoln from November 7 to 10, ahead of India's two-Test series in New Zealand starting November 19.