The India A squad for the upcoming tour of England is expected to be announced on Tuesday, May 13, with opening batter Abhimanyu Easwaran emerging as a strong candidate for captaincy. The tour, which serves as a shadow series for the senior Indian team, is a crucial preparatory phase ahead of the five-match Test series against England.
The India A side is scheduled to play three four-day matches in England. They will face England Lions in two games from May 30 to June 2 and June 6 to 9. The third match will be against the senior India squad from June 13 to 16, providing valuable match practice for both teams. The senior India squad, which is anticipated to feature a new captain, is likely to be selected on May 23.
Selecting the India A squad has presented challenges for the national selectors, further complicated by the recent postponement of IPL 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly advised the selectors to initially pick players who are not participating in the IPL playoffs or belong to teams expected to be out of contention early. Additional players may join the squad in England for the later matches.
Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel to be part of India A squad for England tour
Apart from Easwaran, who is a prime candidate for leadership, several other players are in line for selection in the initial squad. These include Karun Nair, Tanush Kotian and Akash Deep. Nair’s potential inclusion marks a significant development, hinting at a possible return to the national setup after a considerable time away.
The squad is also expected to feature promising youngsters like Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Reddy. These players will initially be part of the India A setup before being potentially drafted into the senior team.
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However, the selection picture for some players remains uncertain. There is no definitive information regarding the consideration of Ishan Kishan. With Jurel and Rishabh Pant likely contenders for wicket-keeper roles in the senior squad, Kishan’s chances in either squad are not guaranteed.
The situation surrounding Sarfaraz Khan is also unclear. Having recently returned from a long injury lay-off, the selectors may prefer him to play some domestic matches to prove his form and fitness before being considered for national selection, following the standard practice.
In the fast bowling department, Mukesh Kumar, known for his ability to swing the ball, can be seen as a potentially useful asset for the England conditions. His inclusion in either squad may depend on his IPL team’s progress. Similarly, left-arm pacer Yash Dayal is also under consideration, with selectors reportedly viewing him as a best left-arm option among the available players.
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