With the England vs India Test series set to kick off on June 20, the performances of India A players against the England Lions have given selectors plenty to ponder. While Karun Nair and KL Rahul emerged as the biggest positives, the all-rounder faceoff between Nitish Reddy and Shardul Thakur remains inconclusive.
The two four-day tour matches—held in Canterbury and Northampton—ended in draws, but they were valuable for India’s seven Test hopefuls who have now joined the senior squad.
Karun Nair Eyes No. 4 Spot After Stellar Show
Karun Nair looks all set to fill the crucial No. 4 role vacated by Virat Kohli. After his dominant Ranji Trophy season, Nair struck a double century in the first match at No. 3 and followed it with scores of 40 and 15 at No. 4 in the second match—justifying his selection and peaking at the right time.
KL Rahul Returns to Red-Ball Form
After requesting a late entry into the India A squad post IPL, KL Rahul quickly got back into rhythm. He scored a century in his first outing and followed it up with a fifty, solidifying his spot in the XI, likely in the middle order or as a flexible top-order option.
Mixed Bag for Openers and All-Rounders
- Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite a gritty fifty, looked uncomfortable in English conditions, managing 107 runs in 4 innings.
- Abhimanyu Easwaran, the backup opener, was more consistent, scoring 167 runs, including two fifties.
Thakur vs Reddy: No Clear Winner Yet
The much-anticipated all-rounder battle remains open:
- Nitish Reddy: 135 runs (with a fifty), 2 wickets in two games
- Shardul Thakur: 80 runs, 2 wickets in the first match, went wicketless in the second
While Reddy had better numbers with the bat, neither made an undeniable case to walk into the XI.
Final Chance: Intra-Squad Match Begins June 16
The seven players will now join the main squad for an intra-squad match starting June 16 in Beckenham, their final chance to impress selectors before the Leeds Test.
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