India's preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England are underway, with an intra-squad match against India A taking center stage. The senior team is using this four-day game as a crucial tune-up before the first Test, scheduled to begin on June 20th at Headingley in Leeds. This match is especially important as it is the only practice game the senior team will have before the highly anticipated series.
The India A team, already in England, extended their stay to participate in this fixture after completing two four-day practice matches against England Lions. This provides them with an advantage in terms of acclimatization to the English conditions.
Adding an intriguing layer to the proceedings, head coach Gautam Gambhir has opted for a "closed door" approach, meaning no media or broadcasters are allowed access to the match. This decision, emulating strategies often seen in European football, aims to prevent the England team from gaining any tactical insights based on the Indian players' performances in the intra-squad game. The BCCI confirmed this in a statement, emphasizing that while access is restricted during the match, a player or member of the support staff will be made available to the media on the final day.
While fans are eager to catch a glimpse of the action, there will be no live streaming of the match. This decision contrasts with the previous two red-ball games between India A and England Lions, which were streamed live. The high level of interest in the intra-squad match underscores its importance as India's only preparatory game before the Test series.
Leading the senior side is Shubman Gill, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. Abhimanyu Easwaran captains India A, supported by vice-captain Dhruv Jurel. The match presents a vital opportunity for players to adjust to the English conditions and fine-tune their strategies before the Test series begins. The series marks the beginning of India's new World Test Championship cycle, adding further significance to each match.
Several players who were part of the India A squad are also included in the main Test squad. These players, including KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Akash Deep, bring valuable experience and form to the team. It remains to be seen which team these players will represent in the intra-squad match.
The five-match Test series is scheduled as follows:
India will be aiming for their first Test series victory on English soil since 2007. The upcoming series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the top teams in the world.
