The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the 13-member India ‘A’ squad set to participate in a two-day warm-up fixture and the initial encounter of the three four-day matches against England Lions. The upcoming series will feature four red-ball matches taking place in Ahmedabad, scheduled between January 12 and February 4.
Bengal’s seasoned opener, Abhimanyu Easwaran, has been entrusted with the captaincy for both the warm-up fixture and the first multi-day match. Easwaran’s leadership will guide a talented squad that includes notable domestic cricket performers such as Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, and Sarfaraz Khan.
KS Bharat, an experienced wicketkeeper-batter with five Test matches under his belt, is a key inclusion in the India ‘A’ squad. His expertise behind the stumps and with the bat adds valuable depth to the team. Bharat’s international exposure brings a seasoned edge to the squad.
The pace attack for India ‘A’ will be spearheaded by Navdeep Saini, a familiar face in the Indian cricketing scene. Saini will be supported by Tushar Deshpande and Akash Deep, forming a formidable bowling lineup aimed at challenging the England Lions.
It is worth noting that this red-ball series aligns with the commencement of the senior Indian team’s five-match Test series against England, scheduled to kick off on January 25 in Hyderabad. The concurrent timing provides an excellent opportunity for the ‘A’ team players to showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot in the senior squad.
India ‘A’ Squad:
1. Abhimanyu Easwaran (C)
2. Sai Sudharsan
3. Rajat Patidar
4. Sarfaraz Khan
5. Pradosh Ranjan Paul
6. KS Bharat (WK)
7. Manav Suthar
8. Pulkit Narang
9. Navdeep Saini
10. Tushar Deshpande
11. Vidwath Kaverappa
12. Dhruv Jurel (WK)
13. Akash Deep
Schedule:
12-13 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium – Ground B, Ahmedabad
17-20 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
24-27 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
1-4 February: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad