India A Squad Announced for England Tour, Features Test Regulars Ahead of Five-Test Series
Mumbai/Patiala, May 22 (Sports Desk)
India A Gears Up for England Tour
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the India A squad for a crucial tour of England, where they will play three first-class fixtures in preparation for the senior team’s five-Test series against England, starting June 20, 2025. The tour aims to provide valuable match practice for several Test regulars and emerging talents ahead of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Tour Itinerary and Squad Details
Led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel as vice-captain, the India A team will face the England Lions in two four-day matches—first in Canterbury from May 30 to June 2, followed by Northampton from June 6 to 9. The tour will conclude with an intra-squad match against the senior Indian men’s team in Beckenham from June 13 to 16. Notably, top-order batters Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are set to join the squad for the second match in Northampton, bolstering the batting lineup.
India A Squad:
Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (Vice-Captain & WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.
Blend of Experience and Youth
The squad features a mix of seasoned players and promising youngsters. Abhimanyu Easwaran, a consistent performer in domestic cricket, will lead the side, while Dhruv Jurel takes on the vice-captaincy and wicketkeeping duties. Experienced players like Karun Nair, who earned a recall after a stellar domestic season and IPL 2025 performance, and Shardul Thakur add depth. Young talents Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, fresh from impressive outings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, are expected to make an impact. Ruturaj Gaikwad, despite a hairline fracture that ruled him out of the IPL 2025 season, has been included to regain match fitness.
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Strategic Preparation for the Test Series
These fixtures are crucial for India as they prepare to face Ben Stokes’ England in a five-Test series, marking the start of the new World Test Championship cycle. The series will test India’s depth and adaptability, with matches scheduled as follows:
- First Test: June 20-24, Headingley
- Second Test: July 2-6, Edgbaston
- Third Test: July 10-14, Lord’s
- Fourth Test: July 23-27, Old Trafford
- Fifth Test: July 31-August 4, The Oval
England’s Preparations
Meanwhile, England have bolstered their coaching setup by appointing former New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee as a consultant for the Test series, aiming to leverage his experience against a formidable Indian batting lineup.
Significance of the Tour
The India A tour provides a platform for players to fine-tune their skills in English conditions, which are known for their challenging swing and seam movement. With several Test regulars in the squad, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Ishan Kishan, the tour will help them acclimatize and gain crucial red-ball practice. The intra-squad match against the senior team will further sharpen their readiness for the high-stakes series ahead.
