Shreyas Iyer was on Thursday appointed India ‘A’ captain for a three-match one-day series against Australia ‘A’ in Kanpur from September 30, setting him up for a possible leadership role in the senior 50-over side, but he will be away from red-ball cricket for the next six months.

Besides Iyer, 30, who recently informed the BCCI’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar that he cannot take the rigours of red-ball cricket owing to a stiff back, the other key players in the India ‘A’ squad are Ravi Bishnoi, wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, big-hitting all-rounder Riyan Parag and Ayush Badoni among others.