As preparations for the return of the IPL 2025 pick up pace, the BCCI is also working on India’s international assessments quietly. Ahead of the five-match Test series in England, India A will play tour games against the England Lions that will groom players for the senior team.
As reported by Cricbuzz, the India A squad for the England tour has already been finalized, with only a few final decisions pending. The Indian selectors met at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai on May 6, just a day before Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket.
BCCI finalizes India A squad; announcement expected May 13
The final squad for the England Lions versus India A series is likely to be announced on May 13. They will play three four-day matches on the tour, with two games scheduled against the England Lions (May 30 to June 2 and June 6 to 9) and one against the senior Indian cricket team (June 13 to 16).
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Abhimanyu Easwaran is likely to be named captain of the India A team. On the other hand, the Indian cricket team will have a new captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, and that is expected to be picked on May 23. This tour will help the BCCI to decide which players can play for India in the future.
Well, selecting the India A team hasn’t been an easy task for the selectors, especially with the IPL 2025 being delayed. The BCCI has asked the selectors to select players who are not part of the IPL 2025 or those from teams that are likely to miss the playoffs for the first match of the tour.
Abhimanyu Easwaran likely to lead India A squad on England tour
As the IPL 2025 progresses and more teams are knocked out, other players may join the India A squad in England for the second and third matches. The India A squad for the upcoming England tour is likely to include several promising names like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Tanush Kotian, Baba Indrajith, Akash Deep, and Karun Nair. They are all certain in the initial team.
Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy are expected to be picked in the India A squad, and they will later join the senior Indian cricket team for the upcoming Test series. Shardul Thakur is also set to be part of the senior Test squad. Since both Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are likely to be part of the side, Ishan Kishan’s selection in either squad is uncertain.
Ricky Bhui, who was the highest run-scorer in the 2023–24 Ranji Trophy, is not expected to be selected for the England tour. Shreyas Iyer’s selection for the upcoming India A or senior team is uncertain at the moment. Iyer is not part of the selectors’ immediate plans.
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Shreyas Iyer’s selection depends on Virat Kohli’s decision
Shreyas Iyer’s chances depend on whether Virat Kohli decides to join the squad or not for the England tour. He has not played a Test in over 15 months. There is also talk about Mukesh Kumar, who is known for his ability to swing the ball, being a potential asset for the England tour.
Mukesh Kumar’s inclusion in one of the squads will depend on how far his IPL team progresses in the tournament. Additionally, Yash Dayal, considered a strong left-arm option, is also in the mix, with many seeing him as a better choice than Khaleel Ahmed for the England tour.
There is no update on Sarfaraz Khan. After a long injury break, the selectors may want Sarfaraz to play a few domestic games before considering him for selection.
