IND A vs ENG Lions highlights, 1st Unofficial Test: 1st Unofficial Test between India A and England Lions ends in a draw

Dhruv Jurel (86*) starts the second day with a four towards deep square leg off Ajeet Dale.

INDIA A 413/3 in 90.1 overs

While the day belonged to Nair and the middle order, India A’s openers failed to capitalise.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, expected to lead from the front, got a start but managed only 24 off 55 balls, throwing away his wicket after doing the hard work.

Abhimanyu Easwaran’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for just 8, raising further doubts over his long-term credentials in red-ball cricket. Easwaran, given another opportunity despite a string of modest scores, once again failed to rise to the occasion.

In contrast, Nair’s class and composure stood out, firmly positioning him back in the reckoning for India’s Test setup.

The England Lions bowlers had a forgettable day, offering too many boundary balls and showing little imagination on a slow pitch.

Rehan Ahmed, expected to be the attack leader, was particularly ineffective, conceding 95 runs in just 16 overs. Dan Mousley’s off-spin was met with contempt, as Nair reverse-swept him with ease.

Even the seamers found no bite on the lifeless surface, leaking runs and failing to sustain pressure.

The day’s total of 51 boundaries and three sixes underlined the lack of discipline and penetration in the Lions’ bowling – a worrying sign for England ahead of the senior Test series.

After Sarfaraz’s dismissal, Dhruv Jurel ensured India A’s momentum didn’t wane, joining Nair in an unbroken 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Jurel, who remained unbeaten on 82 off 104 balls, was confident from the outset, using his feet well against spin and rotating strike smartly. Like Nair, he showed composure against a Lions attack that increasingly looked out of depth.

Jurel’s innings not only helped India A cross the 400-run mark but also demonstrated his readiness to step up as a reliable middle-order option.

Batting at No. 4, Sarfaraz Khan provided the perfect foil to Nair, blending power and invention in his 92-run innings off 119 balls. Their 181-run third-wicket stand laid the platform for a dominant day.

Sarfaraz was especially aggressive against Rehan Ahmed, dispatching him for a six and a boundary to bring up his fifty. He also showcased deft touches against the pacers, ramping short deliveries over the slips.

However, just like on previous occasions, he fell short of a century after doing all the hard work, chasing a leg-side ball from seamer Hull. Despite his fluency, the missed milestone may hurt his prospects, especially with Nair continuing to overshadow him.

Karun Nair produced a sublime, unbeaten 186 on the opening day of the first 'Unofficial' Test against England Lions, making a compelling case for Test selection as India A surged to 409 for 3.

At a time when head coach Gautam Gambhir is contemplating his batting combinations ahead of the England Test series, Nair’s innings was a timely reminder of his pedigree. The Vidarbha batter, known for his calm temperament and technical solidity, crafted his 246-ball knock with elegance, lacing it with 24 fours and a six.

On a largely unresponsive Canterbury surface, Nair appeared to have extra time, executing square shots and pulls with effortless grace.

STUMPS!

India A 409/3

Dhruv Jurel 82*, Karun Nair 186*

Third SIX of India A innings.

Dhruv Jurel smashes Zaman Akhter over backward square leg fence for a maximum.

INDIA A 306/3 in 70.4 overs vs ENGLAND LIONS

Another partnership growing for India A. Karun Nair and Dhruv Jurel have formed another 50-plus stand vs England Lions.

India A are 300 up now.

CENTURY!

Karun Nair brings up his century off 155 balls

India A 243/3 in 60 overs vs England Lions

WICKET! Josh Hull ends Sarfaraz Khan's stay at 92 runs

A brilliant innings from Sarfaraz comes to an end. Superb knock

INDA A 232/3 in 56.2 overs vs ENGLAND LIONS

India A are in commanding position at the moment.

Karun Nair 91*, Sarfaraz Khan 92*

Both batters have batted magnificently today.

INDIA A 229/2 at tea vs ENGLAND LIONS

Both Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair are sends England Lions bowlers all over the park at the moment. Both are inch closer to their centuries.

INDIA A 222/2 in 53.4 overs vs ENGLAND LIONS

Sarfaraz Khan hits fifty vs England Lions

FIFTY!

Karun Nair brings up his half century off 85 balls

India A 130/2 in 37 overs vs England Lions

Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan are walking to the middle. Both are looking in good touch. India A will hope the two batters continue the way they are batting at the moment and put more runs on the board.

Day 1:

Lunch Break - India A - 86/2 (27)

Karun Nair 26*

Sarfaraz Khan 17*

50-run partnership comes up between Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair. Superb batting from the two batters in the middle.

Sarfaraz Khan 25*, Karun Nair 33*

INDIA A 102/2 in 31 over vs England Lions

WICKET!

Eddie Jack strikes, Yashasvi Jaiswal goes for 24 runs

Jaiswal c James Rew b Eddie Jack 24 (55) [4s-3 6s-1]

India A 51/2 in 17 overs vs England Lions

FOUR! Classy from Karun Nair. He sends Eddie Jack towards deep extra cover region for a boundary. Both the batters - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Karun Nair - are looking

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Karun Nair are in the middle at the moment. India A lost their skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran cheaply for 8 runs. India A will hope for a good partnership between Karun and Jaiswal.

India A lose their first wicket as skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran is trapped LBW by Josh Hull for 8.

The score is 12/1. Karun Nair walks in at No. 3 to join Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease.

Steady start for India against England Lions.

After 5 overs, the score reads 4/0.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is on 4, while Abhimanyu Easwaran is yet to get off the mark.

Both openers looking to settle in.

England Lions (Playing XI): Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay, Max Holden, James Rew(w/c), Dan Mousley, Rehan Ahmed, Zaman Akhter, Eddie Jack, Josh Hull, Ajeet Dale

India A (Playing XI): Abhimanyu Easwaran(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar

TOSS!

England Lions win toss, opt to field vs India A

India batter KL Rahul is set to reach England early to begin preparations for the five-Test series, which gets underway on June 20.

Originally scheduled to leave with the rest of the team on June 6, Rahul reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India and requested to play the second India A game vs England Lions.

The Indian cricket board agreed and the right-hander got the necessary go-aheads last night. Rahul was looking to get his preps going but the weather in Mumbai and Bengaluru forced him to explore the option of flying early.

This is something Rahul did ahead of the Australia series as well, when he played an India A game before the rest of the Test squad arrived Down Under.

India A’s unofficial Test tour of England begins with the first of two four-day games against the England Lions on Friday, forming a key part of India’s preparations for the upcoming five-Test series against England. The second match is scheduled for June 6 at Northampton.

These matches offer fringe and emerging red-ball players a vital chance to adapt to English conditions and stake a claim for Test spots. The squad features names like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, and Karun Nair.

India A: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (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, Harsh Dubey.

England Lions: 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, Max Holden.

The England Lions, led by 21-year-old James Rew, are looking to test their bench ahead of the India series.

Rew is in top form, averaging 55 in this year’s County Championship. Spinner Rehan Ahmed and veteran Chris Woakes, both part of England’s senior setup, will use this match to find rhythm. T

he English camp is also monitoring Jordan Cox’s recovery after an abdominal injury.

With India expected to challenge them across five Tests, England’s depth players getting competitive exposure is crucial. This four-day fixture is not just a warm-up — it’s a key assessment ground for England’s emerging red-ball talent.

Dhruv Jurel, now a part of the senior Test squad, and Sarfaraz Khan, who narrowly missed out, will be closely watched.

Jurel’s wicketkeeping and counter-attacking style give him an edge if a backup is needed. Sarfaraz, despite consistent domestic runs, must wait for his chance and stay match-ready.

Players like Ishan Kishan, Harshit Rana and Tanush Kotian also aim to leave an impression. Kotian, now stepping in after Ashwin’s retirement, brings off-spin and batting depth.

For all of them, this Lions series serves not just as exposure but as a rehearsal for possible mid-series call-ups or future tours.

Nitish Reddy’s performances in the Australia series — 298 runs and a century — earned him a place in both the India A and senior squads. But the presence of Shardul Thakur, also an all-rounder, suggests the selectors are still evaluating their options. Thakur brings bowling versatility and lower-order firepower, while Reddy offers a more balanced approach.

The unofficial Test will be a battleground for both players to push their case.

Reddy’s challenge is to outperform Thakur with both bat and ball, while maintaining his composure under English conditions, which demand strong technique and temperament from young and aspiring Test cricketers.

Karun Nair returns to the India A setup after eight years, riding on an exceptional domestic season.

With experience playing in English conditions for Northamptonshire, Karun has the tools to solidify a middle-order spot. His inclusion hints at India’s interest in blending experience with form ahead of the England Test series.

The absence of Virat Kohli opens up a middle-order vacancy, and Karun's ability to play long innings could be pivotal. This series offers him a vital audition, and a few commanding knocks could catapult him back into contention for a permanent place in the senior Test side.

With Rohit Sharma’s retirement and Virat Kohli's absence, Team India is searching for a reliable top-order option.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, a consistent performer in domestic cricket, could finally earn his spot. The Bengal opener, boasting 101 First-Class appearances, has long been on the selectors’ radar.

This unofficial Test against England Lions is a chance to prove his readiness, either as an opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal or at No. 3. If selectors opt for KL Rahul at the top, Easwaran’s compact technique could make him a dependable No. 3, allowing Shubman Gill to shift down to the crucial No. 4 slot.