Pratiksha Ghosh
New Delhi, May 28 – In a strategic move ahead of India’s Test series against England, Shubman Gill has been withdrawn from the India’s A squad scheduled to face the England Lions in a warm-up fixture on June 6 in Northampton.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opted to rest Gill amid a taxing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, prioritizing his readiness for the upcoming five-match Test series beginning June 20.
Gill, who captains the Gujarat Titans in the IPL and was recently named as India’s Test skipper, was initially slated to join the India’s A team alongside Sai Sudharsan.
However, with GT still in contention for the IPL final—currently set to play Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on May 30,the BCCI has decided to avoid the last-minute travel and fatigue for the young captain.
Instead, Gill will participate in an intra-squad warm-up game starting June 13, which the team management believes will provide sufficient match exposure in English conditions.
The final decision was reportedly taken before Royal Challengers Bangalore edged out Lucknow Super Giants to displace GT to third place on the IPL points table.
The selection committee, along with the head coach Gautam Gambhir, felt that rest was a better option for Gill, considering his leadership responsibilities in the long Test series.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over Sudharsan’s availability, as he remains a key player for GT.
India A, under Abhimanyu Easwaran's leadership, will be coached by Hrishikesh Kanitkar with support from assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. The squad includes nine players from the main Test team, ensuring continuity and acclimatization ahead of the Test series.
In another development, T Dilip has returned as the fielding coach of the Indian team. Dilip, who was previously part of Rahul Dravid’s support staff, has been reappointed on a one-year contract after the BCCI’s efforts to recruit a foreign candidate failed.
Dilip has worked extensively at the National Cricket Academy and is regarded for his contributions to India’s fielding standards.
