Shardul Thakur Shines in India vs India-A Practice Match Ahead of England Test Series
Intra-Squad Match Concludes in Beckenham
The intra-squad practice match featuring Team India and India-A wrapped up on Day 3 at Beckenham, Kent, on Sunday. As reported, veteran all-rounder Shardul Thakur made a notable contribution, finishing with an unbeaten score of 122.
๐ธ ๐ธ โฆ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐'๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป๐ต๐ฎ๐บ! pic.twitter.com/VSn1kHozTy
โ BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2025
Thakur, who last participated in a Test match in 2023, had scored 19 runs on Day 2. Other standout players included KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Sarfaraz Khan, all of whom showcased their skills during the match held behind closed doors.
The first day saw Rahul and Gill both achieving impressive half-centuries, alongside Thakur's performance. On Day 2, Sarfaraz Khan made headlines with a century, while Sai Sudharsan, a rising star in the squad, contributed 38 runs.
Despite high expectations for Jasprit Bumrah's return to the red-ball format, he ended the match without taking any wickets.
This practice match was the only opportunity for the Shubman Gill-led team to prepare before their first Test against England, scheduled to take place at Headingley starting June 20.
Upcoming Test Schedule Against England
| Test | Dates | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Test | June 20โ24 | Headingley | Leeds |
| Second Test | July 2โ6 | Edgbaston | Birmingham |
| Third Test | July 10โ14 | Lordโs | London |
| Fourth Test | July 23โ27 | Old Trafford | Manchester |
| Fifth Test | July 31โAugust 4 | The Oval | London |