The India A vs England Lions series is kicking off from today, May 30! The first match is scheduled in Canterbury, with many players in India A looking at this outing as a perfect practice platform. A warm-up for the five-Test series between India and England starting June 20.
India A, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, will take on the England Lions in two matches. Sai Sudharsan might join the squad for the second match. Below, we see what could be the best playing XI for India ‘A’ for their clash against England Lions.
Predicted India ‘A’ Playing XI for 1st Unofficial Test
| Player No. | Player Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Abhimanyu Easwaran (c) |
| 2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan/Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| 4 | Karun Nair |
| 5 | Sarfaraz Khan |
| 6 | Dhruv Jurel (WK) |
| 7 | Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| 8 | Shardul Thakur |
| 9 | Akash Deep |
| 10 | Khaleel Ahmed |
| 11 | Harsh Dubey/Harshit Rana |
Bench: Harsh Dubey/Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan/Ruturaj Gaikwad, Anshul Kamboj, Tushar Deshpande, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Kumar
Note: Sai Sudharsan and KL Rahul will join the squad ahead of the second match. Shubman Gill has withdrawn and will directly come with the rest of the main Indian team.
Easwaran, Jaiswal – Opening duo for entire UK tour?
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s wait for a Test debut might finally be over. With over 100 first-class matches and an average of nearly 49, he’s proven his worth. If he can fire against the England Lions, he might just get his chance to don the India jersey. He’s been close before, but this could be his moment. He had an opportunity against Australia ‘A’ just before the BGT but failed to make an impact.
Now, he is leading the side again, and if Easwaran piles up gigantic runs, he might definitely get his long-due India debut. His partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, is locked in for a spot. The southpaw will get help from playing the two unofficial tests against the England Lions before the bigger 5-match series comes up.
Now, the number three slot is a bit tricky. The toss-up could be between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan. However, there’s a question mark over both. Gaikwad missed the majority of the IPL 2025 due to a hand injury and his CSK ended up with a wooden spoon. Meanwhile, Kishan hasn’t done anything to warrant his place in the starting XI. If fit, Gaikwad might get the nod. Otherwise, Kishan will love to make full use of the opportunity.
Get in the groove Karun Nair, NKR & Shardul
The middle and lower orders comprise India Test regulars. At four, Karun Nair could be a perfect choice. He can be deemed as a short-term Virat Kohli replacement at that spot. He hasn’t played a Test since 2017, but he’s been in top form recently. He had two standout domestic seasons with Vidarbha and has also impressed with Northamptonshire. Additionally, he’s had some notable performances in the IPL with Delhi Capitals, making him a player to watch out for.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy looked fine during the practice, playing some fantastic shots. He’s definitely making a strong case for himself in the team. Another player who’s also in the mix is Shardul Thakur, who’s been out with an injury but has made a great comeback.
He had a dream Ranji Trophy, scoring runs and taking wickets, and has experience playing in England, which could give him an edge. Thakur’s performances in the 2021 tour were impressive, and he’s hoping to repeat that this time around.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel should take the wicket-keeping duties for India ‘A’. He’s a backup keeper option in the senior squad and has already come up with a couple of memorable performances at the Test level. Jurel had a decent IPL 2025 as well, and adapting to the English conditions would be key.
Akash Deep a must among pacers
Now, we are left with three specialist bowling options. While there’s an expectation of a specialist spinner to sneak in the playing XI, don’t be surprised if India A go ahead with an all-pace attack. Among pacers, Akash Deep needs to have a look-in, considering he has a shout for a place in the senior playing lineup as well. He was unfortunately extremely unlucky in Australia and would hope for a more fruitful tour of England.
Khaleel Ahmed could be another excellent option. He was one of the underrated players for CSK at IPL 2025, and having him in the XI can give the management the idea of what a left-arm pace option can do (considering Arshdeep Singh in mind). Meanwhile, Harshit Rana was snubbed from the main team as well. He is likely to get a spot here but if not, Harsh Dubey, the Player of the tournament at Ranji Trophy 2024/25, can be a lone spinner.
