Behind the scenes, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is moving swiftly to finalise plans for the India A vs England Lions series, a key component of India’s long-term Test strategy. According to reports, the India A squad has already been selected, with only minor adjustments pending. The official announcement is expected on May 13.
The selection meeting reportedly occurred on May 6 in Mumbai, just a day before Rohit Sharma made headlines by retiring from Test cricket. The series is scheduled for late May through mid-June and includes two games against the England Lions (May 30–June 2 and June 6–9), followed by a match against the senior Indian team (June 13–16). Abhimanyu Easwaran is the frontrunner to lead the squad.
Selectors faced challenges in finalising the team due to the IPL’s postponement. They’ve been advised to initially include non-IPL players or those whose teams are likely to be out of playoff contention. Players like Baba Indrajith, Karun Nair, Akash Deep, and Tanush Kotian are among those in the mix. Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Reddy are expected to start with India A before being promoted to the senior squad.
Notably, Shardul Thakur has already been earmarked for the senior team. However, uncertainty surrounds the inclusion of Ishan Kishan due to the presence of Rishabh Pant and Jurel. Andhra’s Ricky Bhui, despite topping the Ranji charts, is reportedly not in contention.
Shreyas Iyer is also not a guaranteed pick, having fallen out of favour after not playing a Test for over 15 months. His inclusion might hinge on whether Virat Kohli agrees to play, which could alter the balance.
The selectors are also assessing swing bowlers for English conditions. Mukesh Kumar, known for his ability to move the ball, is under consideration depending on his IPL team’s progress. Yash Dayal is being viewed as a stronger left-arm option than Khaleel Ahmed.
Sarfaraz Khan’s selection remains uncertain due to a recent injury; standard BCCI policy requires match fitness through domestic games, but an exception might be made in his case.
Overall, the India A tour is shaping up to be a critical testbed for India’s next generation of red-ball talent.
