India A Probable Playing XI vs England Lions

Before the Indian cricket team visits England for enthralling 5 match Test series commencing from June 20, it will be the India A team that will play against the England Lions at the end of the month.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Selection Committee announced a mixed squad of future prospects and Test regulars who will visit England with the India A squad.

The India A will play 2 first-class matches against the England Lions, followed by a match against the Indian senior team that will play against England over the next 2 months. In this article, we take a look at probable India A playing XI for the 2 matches vs England Lions. Since Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will join from 2nd match, we will have 2 different playing XI.

India A Squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan to join from 2nd match.

India A vs England Lions 1st Match 

Indian senior team opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal is set to open the inning. Jaiswal is India’s long-term opener in all 3 formats of the game and he will open in this match to get accustomed to the English conditions. Alongside him will be the India A captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, who also opens the inning for Bengal.

Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran

As for the middle-order, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is currently recovering from an injury, has been included in the team and is set to bat at number 3, same position where he plays for CSK in the IPL as well.

At number 4, we will have Karun Nair. Nair has made his way back to the team with his great performance in the Ranji Trophy 2024-2025 season. He scored 863 runs in 16 innings, averaging 53.94. He was surprisingly dropped out of the plan despite scoring a triple century vs England in 2017. At number 5 will be wicketkeeper batter and vice-captain Dhruv Jurel, who is likely to be India’s 2nd choice keeper for the senior team.

Middle-order: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar are going to be the all-rounders. Nitish impressed everyone with his performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and is almost assured of a place in the senior team. Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar are hailed as players who will go on to replace Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in future respectively.

Both are finger spinners and comfortable batters. Tanush Kotian 23 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and scored 314 runs in 10 innings. Left-arm orthodox spin bowler Manav Suthar on the other hand, 122 runs and picked 17 wickets.

All-rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar

In the bowling attack, we expect Mukesh Kumar to lead the side. Mukesh is also expected to be part of the senior team. He will be joined Harshit Rana and left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed. Both Harshit and Khaleel have been in great form in the IPL. Harshit displayed promise in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking 4 wickets in 2 matches. 

Bowlers: Mukesh Kumar, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed

India A Probable Playing XI in 1st Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (WK, VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed.

India A vs England Lions 2nd Match

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will join the India A squad from the 2nd match onwards. Both the batters are likely to slot into the playing XI directly.

We expect that Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran will continue to open the inning while Sai Sudharsan is likely to replace Ruturaj Gaikwad at number 3 and Shubman Gill will bat at 4 as Gill is rumoured to likely to bat at number 4 for the senior team as well. Must note that, the management could even drop one of Jaiswal or Easwaran to try out different players.

We might see more changes with Harsh Dubey, who had a stellar Ranji Trophy season taking 69 wickets in 19 innings and scored 476 runs, getting into the team. The likes of Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, Shardul Thakur etc.

India A Probable Playing XI in 2nd Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Akash Deep, Tushar Deshpande, Khaleel Ahmed.