BCCI plans to include senior players in India A setup before the England series. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli likely to feature.
Team India’s next major challenge is the five-match Test series against England, starting on June 20. To help senior players regain their red-ball form, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has reportedly asked skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to participate in India A matches before the series. This move comes after their recent struggles in Test cricket, both in Australia and at home against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma has struggled with the bat, managing only 164 runs in three Tests since September, including a disappointing 31-run performance in Australia. Virat Kohli’s form has also been underwhelming, averaging 23.75 against Australia despite scoring a century in Perth. Their efforts to regain form by playing in the Ranji Trophy did not yield significant improvements.
As per a Hindustan Times report, the BCCI has implemented new policies to address India’s recent Test struggles. One of these mandates that senior Test players participate in India A matches before crucial overseas tours. As part of this initiative, India A will play two four-day matches against the England Lions.
“The first four-day match will be hosted at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, in Canterbury, from May 30. The second match is scheduled to begin a week later, on June 6, at the County Ground in Northampton,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stated in a release.
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One of the challenges in executing this plan is the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL 2025 playoffs are scheduled for May 20, 21, and 23, with the final set for May 25. Since most senior Test players also feature in IPL franchises, their availability for the India A matches remains uncertain. However, the BCCI is focused on the England series and may require struggling Test players to leave the IPL early for these warm-up games.
Vidarbha batter Karun Nair is expected to be part of the India A setup after an impressive domestic season. Nair emerged as the leading run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and ranked fourth in the Ranji Trophy with 863 runs at an average of 54, including four centuries.
India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is also expected to travel with the India A team to monitor the players closely.
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