Home Cricket India A to play 3 four-day matches in England, featuring Test regulars despite limited red-ball practice: Report

India A to play 3 four-day matches in England, featuring Test regulars despite limited red-ball practice: Report

India's batting vulnerabilities have come under intense scrutiny after a disappointing se...

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:18 AM

India's batting vulnerabilities have come under intense scrutiny after a disappointing series of defeats. The team faced a humiliating 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand on their home turf, shattering their decade-long supremacy. This was followed by a 3-1 loss to Australia, relinquishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.

For the first time in three editions, India also missed the World Test Championship final. With more time available, even Test regulars could find themselves playing for India A to fine-tune their skills.

Captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to "opt out" of the Sydney Test drew attention to India's batting struggles. While he later clarified he was not retiring and "not going anywhere," his absence raised questions about his readiness for the longest format.

Similarly, Virat Kohli faces mounting pressure to work on his technique after averaging 30.72 since 2020 and managing just three centuries. Kohli's repeated dismissals off the outside edge during the Australia series exposed a lack of scoring options off the back foot, an area requiring immediate attention.

BCCI optimistic for strong Lions

Adding to the challenge, India’s batters will have just one Ranji Trophy game before joining the ODI squad for the England series. While the T20 Blast window in England may affect the quality of opposition for India A, the BCCI remains optimistic about England Lions’ strength.

Their confidence stems from the reciprocal arrangements with the ECB, which saw a strong side facing Lions during their tour of India alongside England’s Test team in 2023-24 season.

The England Lions’ 2023-24 opposition featured Indian talents like Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, all of whom later debuted in Tests. Similarly, India’s shadow tour in Australia pitted them against players like Scott Boland and Nathan McSweeney, who featured in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The BCCI is keen to offer batters this series as a platform to press their case for selection. Performances in these games could heavily influence the selectors’ decisions when picking the squad for the England Tests.

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