India’s Test team in England faces an early challenge as head coach Gautam Gambhir has returned to New Delhi because of a family emergency, leaving the squad temporarily without him for their warm-up match against India A. This internal clash in Beckenham is set for Friday and will be conducted behind closed doors.
In Gambhir’s absence, the coaching responsibilities will fall to assistant coaches Sitanshu Kotak and Ryan ten Doeschate, alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel. Hrishikesh Kanitkar will oversee India A. This match is a preparatory step for the main Test series against England, starting in Leeds on 20th June.
The timing of Gambhir’s departure is less than ideal, coinciding with important decisions regarding India’s batting order due to the retirements of key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Young talents B Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are strong contenders for these vacancies.
During India A’s recent unofficial Tests against the England Lions, several players put in noteworthy performances. Nair led the pack with 259 runs, achieving a standout double-century at Canterbury. Dhruv Jurel impressed with three half-centuries totalling 227 runs, while Abhimanyu Easwaran added two fifties.
Opening batsman KL Rahul, expected to pair with Yashasvi Jaiswal, recently scored 116 and 51 in Northampton. Choices regarding the seam-bowling allrounder position are also pending, with Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy both under consideration. Thakur and Reddy each took two wickets in their outings, though Thakur bowled significantly more overs.
For the fast bowling contingent, Jasprit Bumrah seems certain, with two from Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna likely to join him in the starting lineup for the first Test.
Coach Morkel shared his views, stating, “All in all, very happy with the start so far,” amidst his initial nerves over the team’s limited red-ball cricket experience. He praised the squad’s effort in training, noting their positive energy as crucial for building team confidence.
This series not only starts India’s new cycle in the World Test Championship but also marks a new chapter under the leadership of Shubman Gill as Test captain. As always, it’s a moment of transition and potential for Indian cricket.
