India A to play 3 four-day vs England Lions; senior players may feature 

by Sahil Jain
Kohli, Rohit, Rahul

India’s form in Test cricket has not been the greatest. They have six defeats, one draw and one win from their last eight Tests. The Rohit Sharma-led side have lost their last two Test series, 0-3 at home and 1-3 in Australia.  

With the Test team struggling for form, the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) are planning a three-match unofficial Test series in England between the end of the IPL and the start of the England series. The 2025 edition of the IPL concludes on the 25th of May (final) while the first Test against England starts on the 20th of June.  

Thus, according to reports on ESPNCricinfo, there are going to be three four-day matches that India A will play against the England Lions in the span of three weeks. India’s batting has been the talk of the town in the last couple of series, especially that of star players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Their struggles are no secret and they will be under the scanner ahead of the big England tour.  

Rohit’s form has been woeful as he made a mere 31 runs in five innings in Australia. In fact, his last 15 innings have yielded a mere 164 runs at an average of 10.93. Irrespective of where he batted (opening or middle-order), the Indian skipper just couldn’t find form.

Meanwhile, Kohli’s weakness outside the off-stump were further exposed as he was dismissed eight times in a row, edging behind the stumps. He has 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.47. In fact, he’s gone through a bad patch and has struggled over the last five years, averaging just 30.72 with three tons in Test cricket since the start of 2020. 

Shubman Gill didn’t have a great run either as he made 93 runs in five innings in Australia. His record in SENA countries wears a sorry look in the last couple of years. He has played only six Test matches but he has mustered just 188 runs in 11 innings with 36 being his highest score. His inability to convert his starts has been criticized big time.  

Apart from the three, the other batters blew hot and cold but they got runs at crucial junctures and were better than them. 

Thus, the India ‘A’ series against England Lions will provide a big opportunity for the senior players to regain some form ahead of the five-match Test series against England. Due to the ODI series against England starting in the first week of February, there is just one Ranji Trophy fixture that the all-format cricketers can play and that round starts on the 23rd of January. 

The exact dates for the series is yet to be confirmed but it will be a great opportunity for the struggling Indian batters to acclimatize to the English conditions and get some valuable red-ball game time. 

BCCI hopeful of a strong England Lions squad to face India A 

When India travelled to England in 2018, the ECB sent out a solid England Lions squad to face India A ahead of the Test series.
When India travelled to England in 2018, the ECB sent out a solid England Lions squad to face India A ahead of the Test series.

The BCCI has come to an agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) for shadow tours just before the main team travels. India A faced Australia A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in two unofficial Tests and both sides had some prominent names who eventually went on to feature in the Test series as well.  

The same was the case when England travelled to India in early 2024. The England Lions came up against a strong India A side which comprised of some Indian Test and fringe players. Hence, the BCCI is hoping that the ECB reciprocate in the same manner and send a strong Lions squad to play India A. When India travelled to England in 2018, the ECB sent out a solid England Lions squad to face India A ahead of the Test series.

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