India's Cricket Stars Set for England Showdown: A Prelude to the Prestigious Test Series

India's top cricket players, including Karun Nair, gear up for a series of preparatory matches against the Lions in England. The tour starts at Headingley on June 20. IPL commitments wrap up by May 25, giving selectors time to finalize the squad. Rohit Sharma to captain the senior team.

In a strategic move for the upcoming Test series against England, India's frontline cricketers are preparing for crucial warm-up matches against the Lions. The matches, scheduled during the May-June window, will serve as vital practice for the five-match series beginning at Headingley from June 20.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed that the first warm-up match will take place at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury from May 30, followed by a match at the County Ground in Northampton starting June 6. These fixtures provide selectors with valuable time to finalize the India A squad, with rising star Karun Nair potentially joining the ranks post an impressive domestic season.

Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the national team, despite recent series losses against New Zealand and Australia. Meanwhile, India will monitor Jasprit Bumrah's fitness, as he is recovering from a back injury and will miss the initial IPL 2025 matches with Mumbai Indians.

(With inputs from agencies.)