Abhimanyu Easwaran to Lead India A against England A, Karun Nair Returns

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named the captain of India A for the upcoming red-ball matches against the England Lions. The squad features 18 players and will play a key role in preparing the players for India’s five-Test tour of England starting June 20.

The first match is scheduled from May 30 to June 2. Most of the selected players come from IPL teams that didn’t make it to the playoffs. That gives them a timely opportunity to shift focus to red-ball cricket. Easwaran, who has been on the selectors’ radar for some time now, will have a chance to lead and stake his claim for future Test chances.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will join the squad from the second match. Their arrival is expected to add depth to the batting lineup. Another interesting inclusion is Karun Nair, currently with Delhi Capitals. His selection, despite IPL commitments, hints at the selectors considering him for a Test recall.

Also Check: India vs England 2025 Latest News & Updates

Ishan Kishan returns to the red-ball setup after being left out of the BCCI contract list. But Dhruv Jurel, who impressed on the Test tour of England earlier, is likely to remain the first choice as Rishabh Pant’s backup.

Among the all-rounders, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur have both found a place. Both offer medium-pace options with the ball and could be in the running for spots in the main Test squad, especially considering the balance they provide.

India A’s pace attack includes Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Tushar Deshpande, and Khaleel Ahmed. With Jasprit Bumrah’s workload needing careful management and Mohammad Shami still not fully fit, this series could help the selectors pick the right fast-bowling options for the England tour.

Sarfaraz Khan will be hoping to make the most of this series. He had a decent Test debut but didn’t get enough chances in Australia. Another player returning from injury is Ruturaj Gaikwad, who adds strength at the top of the order.

The spinners picked are Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, and Harsh Dubey. While England conditions favour seamers, the spinners could still play a supporting role.

The final match of the series will be an intra-squad game between India A and the senior team in Beckenham from June 13. That game could be the last chance for many of these players to impress the selectors ahead of the England Test series.

India A Squad for England Tour 2025

Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC & WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad , Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.