Who Did What In India vs India A: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shardul Thakur Shine In Closed-Door Match - In Pics

New skipper Shubman Gill silenced critics with a stylish half-century, gaining much-needed momentum ahead of the England Test series where he averages just 14.66 on English soil.

KL Rahul extended his sublime run with another composed fifty—adding to his earlier 116 vs England Lions—making a strong case for a crucial middle-order role in the England Tests.

Using swing-friendly conditions, Shardul Thakur picked key wickets and reminded selectors of his English experience—outperforming rival Nitish Reddy in the intra-squad selection race.

A minute’s silence and black armbands marked a sombre start as Team India mourned the Air India crash victims—showing unity and compassion before battle.

Unlike the England Lions matches, the BCCI declared this a “closed intra-squad game”—meaning no live streaming, scorecard, or media access, sparking widespread fan curiosity online.

Although not in action on Day 1, Karun Nair’s double century in a prior warm-up has made selection trickier—especially for top-order hopefuls like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan.

Despite a quiet Day 1, young Nitish Kumar Reddy remains in contention for the seam-bowling all-rounder slot—making his duel with Thakur one to watch throughout the match.

Seamers like Thakur made early breakthroughs thanks to overcast skies and green-top conditions—echoing the challenges India will face at Headingley, Lord's, and The Oval.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir missed Day 1 due to his mother’s health emergency—though his tactical blueprint remains central to India’s red-ball reboot post-Kohli and Rohit era.

This intra-squad match is India’s only remaining prep before the 1st Test vs England at Leeds—making every run, wicket, and tactical decision pivotal in shaping the playing XI.