A handful of top Indian cricket players are set to join the ‘A’ team, gearing up to take on the Lions in two four-day matches in late May and early June. This is all part of the lead-up to the five-Test series against England. India’s trip kicks off with their first Test scheduled for June 20 at Headingley, and the team is aiming to win their first series in England since 2007.
The first of those four-day matches is happening at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury starting May 30. A week later, the second match is lined up at the County Ground in Northampton, beginning June 6. This information comes straight from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Right now, the top Indian players are focusing on the IPL, with the knockout rounds set for May 20, 21, and 23, followed by the final on May 25. This timing gives the selectors a chance to announce the India A squad before they head to England, and sources suggest that Karun Nair is likely to make the trip.
Karun has been on fire this domestic season. He topped the charts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and scored 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches, putting him fourth overall. His solid average of 54, with four centuries and two fifties, really helped Vidarbha clinch their third Ranji title with a win over Kerala.
There’s still plenty of time for the selectors to name the squad, ideally before or right after the IPL knockout matches. By then, there will be a clearer idea of who’s available to travel, according to a source who shared these details with PTI but preferred to remain anonymous.
Rohit Sharma is set to lead the senior team in England, even though his recent outings have been less than stellar and the team has faced challenges, including two Test series losses against New Zealand and Australia. Another player to keep an eye on is Jasprit Bumrah. He’s currently recovering from a back injury sustained during the Australia tour and will miss the initial matches of the IPL 2025 with the Mumbai Indians. The team’s performance hinges on his fitness, so everyone is waiting eagerly for updates on his progress.
