support@headlinenews360.com
India captain Shubman Gill and K.L. Rahul got among the runs during the intra-squad practice game between India and India A at the Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham on Friday.
A social media post on the BCCI X handle revealed that the Indian batting mainstays scored half-centuries while Shardul Thakur had a successful day with the ball.
While tour matches between England Lions and India A were telecast, the intra-squad fixture, which will go on from June 13 to 16, is a closed affair. BCCI has reportedly barred media personnel from the game. No scorecard or official match statistics are available for this exercise.
On the final day of the match, a player or a member of support staff will be made available to the media to brief the press about performances during the game.
Indian players and support staff sported black armbands and observed a minute’s silence ahead of practice match on Friday as a homage to the victims of the Air India plane crash.
Gambhir returns to India due to family emergency
India head coach Gautam Gambhir rushed back to the country earlier on Friday due to a family emergency.
Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the former India cricketer left London early on Thursday to attend to his mother, who is in a New Delhi hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
“Gautam has gone back due to a family emergency. All our prayers are with the family,” a Board source said.
In Gambhir’s absence, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will take charge, alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel.
Board sources indicated that Gambhir is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the first Test, if ‘things back home are under control’.
India’s five-Test series begins on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds.
