Punjab Newsline | Sports
Indian domestic cricket has thrown up another emerging talent, with Jharkhand's 21-year-old left-handed batter Shikhar Mohan earning a place in the India A squad for the final two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A. His rapid rise has attracted attention after a series of impressive performances, giving selectors another option to consider for India's red-ball cricket setup.
Mohan's selection comes after just 12 first-class matches, underlining how quickly consistent performances can bring a young player into the national selection conversation. His displays in the Duleep Trophy final and the Irani Cup proved particularly important, with selectors getting opportunities to assess his batting against different conditions and bowling challenges.
In the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Chennai, Mohan scored 85 and 52 across the two innings. His ability to handle spin and build an innings in a high-pressure domestic fixture strengthened his credentials. He also contributed with his part-time left-arm spin, bowling 20 overs in the first innings and showing his willingness to take on additional responsibilities for the team.
Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup performances accelerate his rise
Mohan followed that performance with a valuable 60 for Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir. Batting on a surface offering assistance to seam bowlers, he demonstrated patience and discipline against movement off the pitch. The innings added another dimension to his growing reputation, showing that his batting was not limited to spin-friendly conditions.
The youngster has also made an impression in the Ranji Trophy. Earlier in the 2026-27 season, he scored 143 off 196 deliveries against Kerala, becoming the competition's first centurion of the season, according to reports. His ability to combine patience with scoring opportunities has helped him emerge as a player to watch in Jharkhand cricket. <Cite refs=
Mohan's journey has also been shaped by family support. His father, who played cricket in his younger days, encouraged him to pursue the sport and supported his ambition to progress through the domestic ranks. The young batter has spoken about his admiration for Virat Kohli, particularly his aggression, preparation and approach to batting. He also counts MS Dhoni among his cricketing inspirations. <Cite refs={["turn668721search0","turn668721search16"]}/>
The India A opportunity now gives Mohan a chance to gain experience in a higher-level environment and strengthen his case for future selection. An India A call-up does not guarantee a place in the senior Test team, but his recent performances have put him firmly in the spotlight as one of Jharkhand's promising young batters.
