Away from the glitz and glamour of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs, some of India's finest players will make a case for selection in the senior team as well as getting used to English conditions ahead of the marquee five-match Test series between India and England as India A take the field against England Lions at the St. Lawrence Ground in Canterbury on Friday (May 30) in the first of two unofficial Test matches between the sides.

The Indian shadow team will be led by uncapped star Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is one of seven players part of the 'A' team that has also been picked in the 18-man Shubman Gill-led side for the Test series against England.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has also named 18 players in the India A squad, but there is no debate that the seven players part of the senior team will play the first match. This means that skipper Easwaran will open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is looking to continue his dream start to Test cricket on his maiden tour of England.

Back in the Test squad after seven years, Karun Nair has a golden chance to make a case to be in the playing XI and should get the number four slot. Meanwhile, star all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur will also find a spot in the playing XI. Dhruv Jurel will beat Ishan Kishan to be the starting wicket-keeper in the opening match. Akash Deep is set to be one of the starting pacers.

This leaves four spots open, with one of them in the batting unit. One of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sarfaraz Khan will get the spot. With a top-order slot likely to be vacant at number three, Ruturaj could get the nod.

While Harshit Rana was dropped from the Test squad, it is well known that he is highly rated by the selectors and team management. Khaleel Ahmed is the only left-arm pacer in the squad and should also get a chance. India has picked three spin-bowling all-rounders, but only one is likely to be part of the playing XI. Tanush Kotian was called up to India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) squad after Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement, which is likely to make him the first to get a chance ahead of Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar.

India A Predicted XI vs England Lions in 1st Unofficial Test match: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Khaeel Ahmed

India A vs England Lions Live Streaming

India A Squad for England Tour: 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

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