Many of the Indian cricketers are in line to fly to England in the month of June before the Test series against the hosts will begin on August 1 in Birmingham. However, Vinod Rai, the Chief of Committee of Administrators (CoA), has said that India will field a strong team against Afghanistan, a report in PTI suggests.
Moreover, this clearly depicts that fringe players would be missing the historic Test match against Afghanistan.
Should any of the international player fly to England in the month of June, it will result in Afghanistan playing against a second string Indian team.
It is already confirmed that Virat Kohli will miss the Test match. He will play county cricket for either Surrey or Essex and will give historic Test a miss.
Ishant Sarma and Cheteshwar Puajara will be going to England soon and it is not confirmed whether they would stay there or will return for the Test match.
The Indian team is leaving no stone unturned for the England series. And there would be no surprise if even more senior players miss the series. This will open the doors for someone like Yuzvendra Chahal, who has done well in the limited-overs format.
It will be interesting to how the selectors will make a balance and would field a strong team with many of the senior players being absent.
Indian players will play for India A in the two unofficial Test matches to be played before the start of Test series in the United Kingdom.
Players like Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan are in line to play for India A.
Especially Dhawan, who did not have great Test series last time when India travelled England.
The India tour of England starts in the month of July with India taking on the hosts in three T20Is and three ODIs respectively.
It will be in August when the real test will start for India when both the teams play gruelling five-match Test series.
It will be a real test for the Indian team as the side has lost previous two Test series in England.
Kohli’s form will also be under scanner as the Indian captain did not have a great series when last time India played Test series in England.
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