ENG Lions vs IND-A Match Preview | Easwaran’s India A eye victory in England before high-stakes India-England clash

Debayan Sinha

ByDebayan Sinha,SportsCafe Editor

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India A are set to take on the England Lions in an unofficial four-day Test match at Canterbury. Abhimanyu Easwaran will captain the Indian side, which features familiar names such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shardul Thakur, while James Rew will lead the England Lions.

‌Kicking off India’s important summer campaign in England, the 2025 India A vs England Lions series offers a vital chance for fringe players and emerging talents to stake their claim ahead of the marquee five-Test series between the two nations. With two unofficial Tests slated—beginning May 30 in Canterbury and followed by another on June 6 in Northampton, the series acts as both a proving ground and a preparatory phase. Among the standout names, the Rajasthan Royals trio Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Tushar Deshpande are poised to play crucial roles for India A.

Others in the mix include Ishan Kishan, Tanush Kotian—brought in following R. Ashwin’s retirement—and Harshit Rana, all of whom will be keen to catch the selectors’ attention and push for future call-ups.

Meanwhile, England will be keeping an eye on Jordan Cox’s recovery as he returns from injury. Lions skipper James Rew, boasting an impressive average of 55 in the County Championship, will be central to their plans, alongside leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and seasoned all-rounder Chris Woakes, both looking to hit their stride before the main series begins.

Form Guide

ENG Lions: L W L L DIndia-A: L L W W L

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at Canterbury’s St. Lawrence Ground is primarily a grassy one, known for providing a fair contest between bat and ball. While it offers consistent bounce for batsmen, seamers can expect assistance, especially early on. However, with rain in the forecast and temperatures hovering around a cool 17°C, conditions may favour swing bowling and make batting slightly more challenging.

IND- A Squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (vice-captain & wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (wk), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, and Harsh Dubey

England Lion Squad: James Rew (captain), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes, and Max Holden

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