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.

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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.

Musheer Khan and Navdeep Saini’s 200+ runs partnership set a new Duleep Trophy record, while their heroic batting performances rescued India B and helped to put up a competitive first innings total against India A.

India B started the second day of the Duleep Trophy 2024/25 match from 202/7. Sarfaraz Khan’s brother Musheer Khan started the day on 105 runs, and Navdeep Saini started the day on 29 runs.

When the no.9 batter Saini joined the crease, India B were struggling at 94/7. 

Musheer continued his impressive batting on the second day, while Saini maintained his strong supporting role from the other end.

At lunch, India B were batting at 290/7. It was the second straight session of the match without a wicket falling. The 19-year-old Musheer completed his 150 runs in 325 balls. He was not out on 174 runs, while Saini scored 42 runs. They already set a 196-run partnership for the unbroken eighth wicket.

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Musheer Khan and Navdeep Saini recorded 205 runs partnership for the eighth wicket

In the early second session, Musheer and Saini completed their 200-run partnership for the eighth wicket. After setting a 205-run partnership for the eighth wicket, Musheer was dismissed for his second-highest first-class score of 181 runs off 373 balls with the help of 16 fours and five sixes. Kuldeep Yadav ultimately took his wicket, as Musheer missed his second first-class double century. 

It was the first 200+ partnership for the eighth or lower wickets in the Duleep Trophy history. The previous record was a 197-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Abhishek Nayar and Ramesh Powar for West Zone against North Zone in January 2010. 

Highest partnership for every wicket in Duleep Trophy history

Navdeep Saini scored 56 runs before taking two important wickets

Later, Saini completed his second first-class fifty in 125 balls. The second-highest run-scorer of the innings, Saini scored 56 off 144 balls (eight fours and only six) before Akash Deep took his wicket. Akash Deep ended that innings with his fourth wicket of the innings (4/60), as India B were all out for 321 runs.  

In reply, India A scored 134/2 at the stumps of the second day. Openers Mayank Agarwal (36) and captain Shubman Gill (25) couldn’t capitalise on their good starts as Saini dismissed both the openers. 

At the end of the day, Riyan Parag (27) and KL Rahul (23) were batting in their 20s. They set up a 68-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket.