Strong Performances Mark Opening Day of India vs India A Match
Highlights from the Intra-Squad Match
During the first day of the intra-squad match between the Indian senior team and India A held in Beckenham, captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul showcased impressive batting skills, while Shardul Thakur excelled with the ball.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared images from the day's events on their official X account, stating: “Beckenham. A solid Opening Day in the Intra-Squad game! Half-centuries for KL Rahul & Captain Shubman Gill. Shardul Thakur amongst the wickets.”
📍 Beckenham
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 13, 2025
A solid Opening Day in the Intra-Squad game!
Half-centuries for KL Rahul & Captain Shubman Gill 👌 👌
Shardul Thakur amongst the wickets 👍 👍 pic.twitter.com/7lfEFoL4KE
KL Rahul continued his excellent form, building on his previous performances where he scored 116 and 51 in the second unofficial Test against the England Lions at Northampton.
Shubman Gill, who has faced challenges in English conditions with an average of just 14.66 and a top score of 28 from six innings across three Tests, will gain confidence from his half-century as he aims to improve his performance.
Meanwhile, Thakur is making a strong case for selection with scores of 27 (in the first unofficial Test), and 19 and 34 (in the second unofficial Test), along with two wickets. The seam-bowling all-rounder is competing for a place in the playing XI, alongside young Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The upcoming five-Test series against England, commencing on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, marks a new chapter for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, and Ravichandran Ashwin stepping away from international play, newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill will lead a refreshed Indian squad into what is expected to be a pivotal series.
The tour of England is scheduled from June to August 2025, with matches taking place at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord's and The Oval (London), and Old Trafford (Manchester).
Team India squad for the England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.