India A vs England Lions: Gill, Sai Sudharsan to Miss Second Game, Rahul Joins Squad

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans opener B Sai Sudharsan will not feature in the second unofficial “Test” match between England Lions and India A, set to begin in Northampton on June 6. The duo was initially slated to join the India A squad for the game but will instead travel with India’s main Test squad, landing in England on June 6 to prepare for the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds.

KL Rahul, however, is expected to bolster India A’s lineup, arriving on Tuesday to play the second game as part of his preparation for the Test series. This follows a drawn first unofficial “Test” in Canterbury, played on a flat, slow pitch that challenged bowlers. India A’s batting shone, with Karun Nair scoring a double-century, Dhruv Jurel notching two half-centuries, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributing quick fifties in the second innings.

Fast bowler Akash Deep, now recovered from a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, is available for selection. He trained lightly during the first game and is expected to play a bigger role. Allrounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur, who bowled 14.5 and 28 overs respectively in Canterbury, will look to build on their workloads.

England Lions, who had six Test-capped players in the first game, may see Chris Woakes join their squad for the second match. After the Northampton game concludes on June 9, India’s Test squad will face India A in a closed-door intra-squad match in Beckenham before heading to Leeds for the Test series opener.

Stay tuned for more updates as India gears up for the highly anticipated England tour!

                                               

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