KL Rahul is all set to make his return to red-ball cricket as he joins the India A squad for the second unofficial Test against England Lions, scheduled to begin on June 6th in Northampton. This move comes as the experienced batter looks to gain valuable match practice ahead of the crucial five-match Test series against England later in June.

Rahul's inclusion in the India A squad is a strategic decision aimed at providing him with much-needed time in the middle, especially considering the absence of key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Test squad. Recognizing the importance of experience in the revamped Indian setup, Rahul expressed his interest to the BCCI in participating in the unofficial Test, and the board promptly approved his request.

The stylish right-hander's arrival in England on Monday has already generated considerable excitement among fans eager to see him back in action in the traditional format of the game. Sources indicate that Rahul is expected to feature in the playing XI for the second Test, which will be held at the County Ground in Northampton.

While Rahul's inclusion bolsters the India A squad, the team will be without the services of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan for this match. Initially, both Gill and Sudharsan were slated to join the India A squad, but they will now travel directly with the senior Test squad, which is scheduled to arrive in England on June 6th.

The first unofficial Test between India A and England Lions, played in Canterbury, ended in a draw due to the surface being flat and slow, which offered minimal assistance to the bowlers. Karun Nair shone for India A with a brilliant double century, supported by valuable contributions from Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel. In response, the England Lions also displayed strong batting performance, with Tom Haines, Max Holden, and Dan Mousley all scoring centuries.

For the second Test, the England Lions squad is expected to be strengthened by the inclusion of all-rounder Chris Woakes. Additionally, Josh Tongue, a 27-year-old star pacer, has been added to the team, bringing with him promising form, having taken 15 wickets in three County Championship matches this summer. George Hill is also set to rejoin the team after missing the first match. However, Rehan Ahmed has departed to join the England Men's team, and Sonny Baker and Josh Hull are sidelined due to injuries.

The match is scheduled to commence at 3:30 PM IST and while there will be no live television coverage in India, fans can follow the live stream of the match on the ECB website and app.