BCCI gives up on picking India A squad for England amidst IPL, Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir drama

The Indian selectors are stuck in a tough spot as the India A tour of England is clashing with the rescheduled IPL 2025. With many important players still playing in the IPL 2025, it’s hard for the selectors to name a full squad for the upcoming England tour.

The IPL 2025 will resume on May 17, and the final is now set for June 3. But the A squad is scheduled to play three big games—two against England Lions (from May 30 to June 9) and one against the senior Indian team on June 13. That means Indian players might not be available for the start of the England tour if their teams reach the IPL 2025 playoffs and final.

India A squad on hold as IPL 2025 Playoffs put selectors in dilemma

One of the biggest concerns is Karun Nair. The Vidarbha captain had a brilliant domestic season, scoring over 860 runs in the Ranji Trophy. This England tour could be Nair’s big chance to get back into the Indian cricket team after five years.

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But his IPL team, Delhi Capitals, is fighting for a spot in the playoffs. If they qualify, Nair might miss the first or even the second match of the India A tour. Because of all this confusion, the Indian selectors have delayed the squad announcement.

They were planning to name the team this week, but now they have to wait and see which IPL teams make it to the playoffs before finalizing the squad for the England tour, where the senior team is also set to play five Test matches next month against Ben Stokes and his team.

IPL 2025 puts Karun Nair's India return hopes in jeopardy

A source told the Times of India, “The problem is that quite a few players, who are supposed to be picked for the India A tour, will be busy for their franchises as the IPL playoffs start only from May 29. In such a scenario, those players whose teams make it to the playoffs are likely to miss at least the initial part of the India A tour of England.

Right now, we don’t have complete clarity on which teams will make the playoffs and which won't. For example, can the selectors pick Karun Nair, whose team, Delhi Capitals, is in the race for a playoff berth? I guess we will have to wait for a few days for more clarity on the availability of the players, as the IPL scenario will become clearer.”

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Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel set to play all India A games on England tour

Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel are all set to play in the India A series in England. Since Rajasthan Royals are already out of the IPL 2025 playoffs race, both Yashasvi and Jurel will be available for all three matches of India A against England Lions ahead of the Test series.

The source signed off by saying, “Jaiswal and Jurel are likely to be there, as their team (Rajasthan Royals) is not in contention for an IPL playoffs berth. The selectors are keen that Jaiswal gets some match practice in the English conditions before the first Test.”