As India gears up for its first Test series without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel, is leaving no stone unturned. During an internal meeting in Beckenham, Kent, the Indian team management laid out a “clear” plan for the intra-squad match, the only preparatory fixture before the five-match Test series against England starting June 20 in Leeds.
Message to the Curator: No Extreme Conditions, Please
Following the meeting, Gambhir and Morkel met Josh Marden, head curator at the Beckenham County Ground, with a very specific request:
“We want a good pitch. Not too flat. Not too green. Just something realistic that allows proper match preparation.”
Marden confirmed the surface is designed to offer a balanced contest—ideal for assessing batting form and providing meaningful time to pace bowlers without exposing either department to extreme conditions.
Practice Pitch to Mirror Match Conditions
While the Kent surface naturally tends to favour batters, Marden noted that adjustments were made:
“The wicket may look dry or flat, but we’ve added extra grass density. The goal is to simulate proper red-ball match scenarios.”
Grass cover, net dimensions, and moisture levels have been finely tuned to give seamers “enough life” while allowing batters to build innings under real-world pressure.
Eyes on India’s New-Look Batting Order
With Rohit and Kohli retired from Tests, this intra-squad match will also shed light on India’s new top-order. Youngsters like Sai Sudharsan and returning stars like Karun Nair are tipped to be in contention, and the match will provide a dress rehearsal ahead of the five-Test battle.
India will be led by Shubman Gill, while players like Jaiswal, Rahul, Nair, Reddy, and Thakur aim to cement their places during this crucial tune-up.
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