India A squad surprise: Star player’s return hints at possible Test call-up for England series

In a surprising turn of events before the much-awaited England Test series, the India A team announcement has left people wondering with the comeback of some veteran players, indicating possible support for the main team. The India A team is scheduled to face the visiting England Lions in two four-day games. The fixtures are to be held between June 26 and July 6, and the matches will be played at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and the BRSABV Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, respectively.

The chosen India A team comprises a combination of bright young prospects and veteran campaigners, which implies that the selectors are interested in keeping tabs on form and fitness in the lead-up to the five-Test home series against England this year. As performances in these matches will likely determine senior team selections, all eyes will be on the returnees who have displayed grit in the domestic scene.

The complete India The team is Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, KS Bharat (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Arzan Nagwaswalla, and Tilak Varma.

Also read: List of IPL players who have stand or pavilion in their name

Comeback Trail: Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini Among Returnees

One of the picks of the comebacks is Karun Nair, who hadn't played a Test since 2017 even though he had scored a triple-century against England the previous year. His comeback is a result of a reassessment of his red-ball performances in domestic cricket. Shardul Thakur, an established Test performer with the ball and useful bat, also makes it back after a short layoff, retaining the selectors' interest in his all-round ability.

Navdeep Saini, who has been battling injuries, is another interesting name. Once considered among India’s fastest bowlers, Saini’s inclusion shows he is back in the mix for red-ball cricket. KS Bharat, despite mixed outings in the senior team, retains the backing of selectors and will aim to cement his role as a long-term wicketkeeping option.

Also back from their previous flirtations with senior squad call-ups are Washington Sundar and Arzan Nagwaswalla. These returns indicate the management is looking to throw a wide net and capture the best talent in order to develop depth and preparedness before the high-pressure Test series against England.