Following the debacle in the last Test season that eventually cost India a place in the World Test Championship Final, the BCCI is seemingly in no mood to take any chances with the Test series in England later this year. Seniors like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will continue to toil hard to retain their Test spot.
India were looking destined to qualify for the WTC final for the third time in a row before losing the series against New Zealand and Australia.
They first lost the Test series at home against New Zealand. The Black Caps blanked India 3-0 to register a historic series win. It was India’s first Test series defeat at home since the 2012/13 season.
India still had the opportunity to bounce back and qualify for the WTC final. However, they lost the five-match series in Australia by a margin of 3-1. It was India’s first Test series defeat against Australia since the 2014/15 season
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India to open next WTC Cycle with an away England tour
Team India’s next Test assignment is the five-match Test series in England. It will kickstart India’s campaign in the next WTC cycle. And ahead of the series, the BCCI is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the team prepares well for the tough assignment.
India have not won a Test series in England since 2007 and will have to come up with something special to end the winless streak.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma set to play for India A:
India’s senior-most players, such as captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are reportedly set to be part of the ‘A’ squad, which will face the Lions in two four-day matches before the England series. These pre-tour games will be played in the May-June window, in preparation for the five-match Test series.
While the Test series is scheduled to begin on June 20, the series for the ‘A’ side will get underway on May 30, less than a week after the IPL ends. The ongoing season of the IPL is scheduled to finish on May 25.
“The first four-day match will be hosted at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury from May 30. The second match is scheduled to begin a week later on June 6 at the County Ground in Northampton,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.
PTI has reported that a few mainstay India Test players will be part of the ‘A’ team. It could put pressure on these players, who are all contracted with their respective IPL franchises at the moment.
With the IPL playoffs and the final to take place towards the end of the month, the players will be under immense pressure if they are asked to play for the ‘A’ side.
After the Australian tour, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appeared for a Ranji Trophy match each. Virat Kohli returned to the Ranji Trophy after 11 years but did not have a good outing.
Karun Nair set for India recall
Reports state that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could be asked to play for India A after their struggle in the last Test season. Meanwhile, Karun Nair is also set to be added to the India A team after his stunning display in the last domestic season.
He was the leading run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the fourth-highest run-maker in the Ranji Trophy with 863 runs from nine matches.
