The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the India A squad for the upcoming England tour, with Karun Nair making a surprise return to the national setup. The team will be led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, while Dhruv Jurel has been named vice-captain.
Key Highlights of the Squad
- Karun Nair’s Comeback: The 33-year-old batter, who last played for India in 2017, has been rewarded for his stellar domestic performances, including 863 runs in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy.
- Senior Players Included: The squad features Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, and Sarfaraz Khan, among others.
- Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan to Join Later: Both players will join the squad ahead of the second match, following their IPL commitments.
- Three-Match Schedule: India A will play two first-class matches against England Lions at Canterbury and Northampton, followed by an intra-squad match.
India A Squad for England Tour
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain)
- Dhruv Jurel (Vice-Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Karun Nair
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Shardul Thakur
- Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
- Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana
- Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Anshul Kamboj
- Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan
- Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey
- Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (Joining Later)
Karun Nair’s Road to Redemption
Nair, who famously scored a triple century against England in 2016, has been in exceptional form in domestic cricket. His performances in the County Championship and Ranji Trophy have reignited hopes of a return to the senior Indian team, especially after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Conclusion
With India undergoing a transition phase, the England tour will be crucial for emerging talents and experienced players like Nair looking to reclaim their spot in the national team. The matches will be closely monitored by selectors, as India prepares for the Test series against England starting June 20.
