KL Rahul set to join India A for second unofficial Test ahead of England series

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a much-anticipated five-match Test series against England beginning on June 20, preparations are well underway both on and off the field. In a strategic move to bolster his red-ball readiness, star Indian batter and wicketkeeper KL Rahul is set to join the India A side for their second unofficial Test against the England Lions in Northampton, beginning June 6.

The 33-year-old, named in India’s senior 18-member squad for the England Test series, is not officially part of the India A squad. However, according to reliable sources close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rahul has opted to play in the second warm-up fixture to acclimatize himself to English conditions after wrapping up his Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign.

“He will be flying on Monday and will be playing a second warm-up game with the India A side,” a source revealed to The Indian Express. “As he is part of the senior men’s team, which will be playing five Test matches in the series, these matches will give him valuable game time and match practice.”

Post-IPL reset and focus on red-ball cricket

Rahul’s decision to join the unofficial Test comes on the heels of a solid IPL 2025 season with Delhi Capitals, where he amassed 539 runs in 13 innings at an impressive average of 53.90. His consistent performance included three half-centuries and a century, placing him seventh on the season's top run-scorers chart. Now, his focus shifts entirely to the longer format, where India faces a stern challenge in swinging English conditions.

The upcoming Test series is crucial not only from a competition standpoint but also in the context of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. India, who narrowly missed out on the WTC title in the last two editions, will be hoping that experienced campaigners like Rahul find their rhythm early.

The India A squad, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, is currently engaged in the first of two four-day unofficial Tests against the England Lions in Canterbury. The squad is packed with emerging talent, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shardul Thakur.