The India Test team, set to face England in a five-match series from June 20 at Headingley, will play a closed-door warm-up match against India A in Beckenham, Greater London, before the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship, according to a report by Cricbuzz.
For their preparations, the Men in Blue is expected to use a ground under Kent’s jurisdiction, located in a suburban area near London. Discussions reportedly took place on the possibility of broadcasting the intra-squad match, but the concerned authorities did not approve the proposal. The Indian team preferred to keep the game private, off-camera, and behind closed doors.
The warm-up match, scheduled around June 13, will be the only practice game before the first Test in Leeds. No matches against local county teams have been planned. The Beckenham venue, in southeastern London, is known for its good facilities.
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The Indian squad is expected to arrive in England around June 9. Some players may travel earlier after completing their IPL commitments, but there is no confirmation yet.
Ahead of the five-Test series, the India A team will also tour England, playing two four-day matches against the England Lions. The first match will be held at Canterbury, Kent’s main ground, from May 30 to June 2, while the second will take place at the Northamptonshire Cricket County Club from June 6 to 9.
The Test squad is likely to be selected next month, with discussions ongoing regarding the leadership role of skipper Rohit Sharma. Reports suggest his captaincy could depend on his IPL performance. So far, he has scored 0, 8, and 13 in three matches, accumulating 21 runs at an average of seven.
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