India is set to play a single warm-up match before their five-Test series against England, echoing the preparation strategy from the Australia tour. However, this time, an intra-squad four-day match will replace the simulation drills. The match, scheduled in Beckenham, Kent, will pit the senior team against India A, commencing on Friday.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasized secrecy, mirroring the approach taken during the Perth camp last November. The BCCI requested that training sessions and practice games at the WACA be off-limits to spectators. Gambhir is reportedly keen on a similar approach this time, with the intra-squad game likely to be played behind closed doors.
This measure is intended to prevent the opposition from gaining insights into tactical strategies, similar to practices in European football clubs.
The upcoming 360-over match will be crucial for match practice, especially in assessing the bowling unit’s readiness and determining the batting order, particularly after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
All eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah, the left-arm seamer, as he returns to first-class cricket after six months. The warm-up game provides an opportunity for him to bowl extended spells and assess his fitness before the series.
