The Indian cricket team is currently engaged in a crucial intra-squad match at Beckenham, Kent, as part of their preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, commencing on June 20, 2025. This match serves as the final opportunity for the players to acclimatize to the English conditions and fine-tune their strategies before the highly anticipated series.
Day 1 of the intra-squad match saw significant contributions from Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Shardul Thakur. According to reports, both Shubman Gill and KL Rahul showcased their batting prowess by scoring half-centuries. Gill's performance is particularly noteworthy as he is set to lead the Indian team in the Test series, taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket along with Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. Gill's innings will undoubtedly boost his confidence, especially considering his current average of 14.66 in England. KL Rahul, who has been in excellent form recently, continued his impressive run, further solidifying his position in the middle order. He had previously scored 116 and 51 against England Lions.
Adding to the positive performances, Shardul Thakur made a mark with the ball, picking up crucial wickets. Thakur is currently vying for a spot in the playing XI as a pace-bowling all-rounder, competing against Nitish Kumar Reddy. His ability to exploit the English conditions and extract movement off the pitch has certainly bolstered his chances of selection.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared updates and images from the match on their social media channels, highlighting the performances of Gill, Rahul, and Thakur. The BCCI also mentioned that players and staff observed a minute's silence to honor the victims of the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad. The team members were seen wearing black armbands as a mark of respect and solidarity with the grieving families.
Notably absent from the match was head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had to return to India due to a personal emergency. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate took charge of the session in his absence.
The four-day intra-squad match is being played behind closed doors, with no media access or live coverage. This decision, reportedly made at the insistence of Gautam Gambhir, aims to provide the team with a focused and undisturbed environment for their preparations. While this has sparked curiosity among fans, the BCCI has been providing timely updates on social media to keep them informed about the proceedings.
The match is particularly crucial for players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is on his first England tour with the senior side. While he had a good IPL season, he would be keen to improve his form in the English conditions. Overall, the first day of the intra-squad match has provided valuable insights into the form and readiness of key players. With the Test series just around the corner, the Indian team will be looking to make the most of this opportunity to fine-tune their strategies and gear up for a challenging contest against England.
