Zeeshan Ansari Earns Surprise India A Call-Up for Sri Lanka Red-Ball Tour
Uncapped Uttar Pradesh spinner Zeeshan Ansari has been named in the India A squad for the upcoming red-ball tour to Sri Lanka, a selection he described as feeling "a bit like magic." The 26-year-old last played a first-class match in January 2020 against Tamil Nadu and has since built his reputation primarily in white-ball cricket.
From White-Ball Success to Red-Ball Opportunity
Ansari's recent performances in limited-overs cricket paved the way for this unexpected red-ball call-up. In the 2024 UP T20 League, he claimed 24 wickets in 12 matches, earning him an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He made his IPL debut last season, taking six wickets in 10 matches. During the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he emerged as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the 50-over format, with 21 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.52.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Ansari said: "To be honest, it feels a bit like magic because at one point I was nowhere. It was a surprise. I had done well in white-ball cricket this season, so I felt that even if my name came up somewhere, it might be in a white-ball team. But being selected in the red-ball team is a huge thing. I love bowling with the red ball, and I have spent my entire life practising with the red ball. Even the 40-over league matches in Lucknow are played with the red ball, and I have been playing those regularly for the last ten years."
Limited First-Class Experience but Persistent Preparation
Despite his recent white-ball exploits, Ansari has only five first-class matches for Uttar Pradesh, taking 17 wickets at an average of 30.76, with best figures of 3/33. He made his debut for UP in the 2017-18 season and previously represented India at the U19 World Cup in 2016 alongside stars like Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan. Limited opportunities in state cricket led him to seek chances elsewhere, including league cricket in Kolkata and a stint as a net bowler for Uttar Pradesh in 2025.
During IPL 2026, young spin all-rounder Shivang Kumar was ahead of him in the SRH pecking order, resulting in Ansari not getting any game time. Nevertheless, the spinner refused to label his journey as a struggle. "I would not call it a struggle because, as a cricketer, ups and downs are always a part of your life," he said. "Many things are not in your control, and sometimes you are not performing either. The only thing in your hands is to keep improving, work hard and wait for your turn. Even when I was a net bowler with the UP team, I always had the desire inside me that I have to make a comeback."
Learning from National Team Coaches
Ansari recently served as a net bowler for the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan earlier this month. During that stint, he spent time with head coach Gautam Gambhir and spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule. Bahutule emphasized the mindset shift required from white-ball to red-ball cricket, while Gambhir encouraged him to play freely and make the most of his chances.
"I am someone who likes to stay balanced," Ansari said. "I do not think much about the past and only focus on the future. I know that as a cricketer, life cannot always be full of good things. One day you perform well and become happy, and if the next day is not good, you get upset. These small things don't affect me as much anymore. I believe that you should just keep going, keep working hard, and God will help you. Your time will come."
India A Squad for Multi-Day Matches in Sri Lanka
The two unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka A are scheduled for June 25 and July 2 respectively. The India A squad for the multi-day matches includes Dhruv Jurel (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Badoni, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, N Jagadeesan, Aman Mokhade, Shaik Rasheed, and Zeeshan Ansari.
