As part of their final preparations for the upcoming five-Test series against England, India are set to play a warm-up match against their own India A team. This four-day fixture will take place in Beckenham, behind closed doors, adding an air of privacy reminiscent of their previous training session at Perth’s WACA ground ahead of the Test series in 2024-25.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel, speaking to bcci.tv, shed some light on the team’s early training sessions. “Two days [of] practice so far, conditions suited the fast bowlers. It was testing for the batters, which also in a way helps them to prepare for what’s to come,” he stated, highlighting the testing conditions faced by the batsmen against lively pitches.
The core objectives of these behind-the-scenes preparations are clear—achieving consistency and executing the basics well. “Now it is slowly building towards that first Test match. For me, the main thing – I think it’s crucial in England – is consistency,” Morkel explained, underscoring the importance of finding effective individual processes and adapting to varying English conditions.
Although the senior team have not played a solid warm-up game since their arrival in England, several squad members have already seen match action against the England Lions. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, with his stellar 204-run innings, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed with the bat during their previous games for India A, indicating promising form. Meanwhile, on the bowling front, Reddy and Shardul Thakur were less impactful, managing two wickets each over extended spells.
This period of practice and introspection comes with its share of nerves, as Morkel admitted, “I was a little bit nervous in terms of the lack of red-ball [cricket] we’ve played, but seeing how the guys are moving around and training the last three days, it’s a pleasing sight.”
With a diverse bowling attack and players exhibiting varied skill sets, India appear poised for the challenge the English summer presents. As Morkel stated, the key will be maintaining that consistency as they look forward to the series opener at Headingley on June 20.
