India cricket team (main squad) will take on India A in a one-off intra-squad practice match on Friday ahead of the five-match Test series against England. Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India A finished the tour against England Lions with two draws. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and co. have already assembled in Kent and have been taking part in an intensive pre-series training camp.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Gill will be seeking a lot of answers pertaining to how their playing XI should look like for the 1st Test in Leeds. And the best and the only way to determine that would be the practice match against India A. Ahead of the intra squad match, let’s take a look at what questions Gambhir and co. will be seeking answers for.
1. Who will replace Rohit Sharma as opener?
Rohit Sharma’s decision to retire abruptly from Tests right before the England series took everyone by surprise. India are now on the hunt to find his replacement at the top of the order. KL Rahul has emerged as the front-runner for the role of the opener.
Rahul had batted at the top of the order in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the absence of Rohit. And he fared pretty well. In the 2nd unofficial Test between India A and England Lions, the Karnataka batter sizzled with a 116 and 51-run knocks as an opener.
While Rahul seems to be the most logical choice as Rohit’s replacement, there are other options as well in the form of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan. The India vs India A match could very well help Gambhir and Gill make a decision.
2. Sai Sudharsan to bat at number 3?
The Tamil Nadu batter earned his maiden Test call-up following a phenomenal run with the bat in IPL 2025 and domestic tourneys. He has also played in the County Championships previously which could come of good use to India in the series against England.
However, it remains to be seen if he will be slotted at number 3. Or for that matter, if he will be picked in the playing XI. India’s net session in Kent on Wednesday offered an insight into what the top 6 might look like. Going by that, it looks like Sai has no place in the playing XI. However, the India vs India A practice match could help Gambhir decide if Sudharsan deserves to bat at number 3 or not.
3. Who will replace Virat Kohli at 4?
Like Rohit, Virat too announced his sudden decision to retire from Tests. This has led to the creation of a void at number 4. Previously, Gill batted at number 3 and Kohli came next. Now, India will be on the hunt for a new number 4.
Should Sudharsan bat at number 3, then captain Gill could play at number 4. This allows the Punjab batter to stay away from the perils of facing the new ball. It could also help in extending his stay in the middle, which would be good for the team.
Another option could be Karun Nair. The Vidarbha batter has been in the form of his life over the last couple of years. Although he has never batted at number 4, India could use the services of the veteran and allow him to fill in the shoes of Kohli.
Between Gill and Nair, it is safe to say that the former is the front-runner to become India’s new number 4.
4. Karun Nair’s batting position
Adding to the above-mentioned point, Karun batted at number 3 in India A’s 1st unofficial Test and at number 4 in the second. He managed scores of 204, 40 and 15 in three innings. In IPL 2025 too, his batting position varied between 3 and 4. The India vs India A tie could very well help Gambhir assess as to where Karun needs to be slotted in the playing XI for the England series.
5. Will Jurel and Pant play together?
India’s net session in Kent on Wednesday saw Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant playing together in the nets. This has given rise to the possibility of both keeper-batters featuring in India’s XI, a move that would mean that India are moving on from their traditional strategy of having just one keeper in the playing XI.
Jurel has displayed stellar consistency over the last few months. It started with IPL 2025 where he amassed 333 runs in 13 innings. His fine form then spilt over to the series against England Lions. In the two unofficial Tests, he registered scores of 94, 53*, 52 and 28. Hence, it won’t come as a surprise if he is included in the playing XI alongside vice-captain Pant.
6. Nitish Reddy vs Shardul Thakur
At present, Nitish Kumar Reddy holds the edge over Shardul Thakur in terms of making it to the playing XI. Both the all-rounders have been named in India’s main squad for the series against England. But Gambhir can possibly pick only one in the playing XI.
While Shardul does have the experience of having played in the UK previously, he did not fare well in the unofficial Tests. With the bat, he only managed to score 27, 19 and 34. Two wickets is all he took in the India A series.
Nitish, on the other hand, tasted more success. He registered knocks of 7, 52*, 34 and 42. With the ball, he registered spells of 1/63 and 1/49.
Gambhir will rely on the India vs India A match to help him figure out which all-rounder needs to be slotted into India’s XI in Leeds.
7. Will India play Kuldeep over Jadeja?
Kuldeep Yadav has been picked as the lone specialist spinner in the Indian squad. According to many experts, although Jadeja is the most-experienced Test player in the squad, he is by no means India’s frontline spinner. This puts Gambhir in a spot. Who will make it to the playing XI – Kuldeep or Jadeja?
It will be impossible for India to have both the spinners in their playing XI. Such a move would mean they would have to cut down on their pace battery, which is highly unlikely. The practice match could very well offer an insight as to who is better suited for a position in the XI.
8. Arshdeep Singh vs Prasidh Krishna
It is all but certain that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will start for India in the 1st Test. However, Gambhir will have to decide on who would be the third pacer in the line-up. The options are Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.
Arshdeep, a left-arm seamer, recieved his maiden and long-awaited Test call-up. His height, along with his abilities to swing the ball both ways, could come of good use to India at Headingley.
Similarly, Krishna’s height could also come of good use to India. Besides, the Karnataka bowler is in red-hot form, having finished IPL 2025 as the leading wicket-taker.
The India vs India A practice match could help Gambhir in deciding between the two as to who would be a better fit in the playing XI for the 1st Test.
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