New Delhi: Senior Indian batter KL Rahul is set to join the India A squad for their second four-day match against the England Lions, scheduled to begin on June 6 in Northampton. His inclusion comes as part of India’s broader red-ball preparations ahead of the five-match Test series against England starting June 20.

Having missed IPL 2025 playoffs with the Lucknow Super Giants, Rahul is now being sent early to England to get crucial match time. A BCCI source confirmed, “He will leave on Monday and join the India A team for their second warm-up match. Since he’s in the senior Test squad, these games will give him red-ball exposure ahead of the England series.”

India A’s first match is already underway in Canterbury, but Rahul is expected to bolster the lineup in the next fixture. The full Indian Test squad will also play a key intra-squad match in Beckenham on June 13 to fine-tune their readiness.

Rahul, who has played 58 Tests and scored over 3,200 runs, has often emphasized his love for the longest format of the game. “Test cricket remains the pinnacle. There’s nothing quite like it,” he said in a recent interview.

His early departure and participation in the India A match underline India’s intent to have their top players well-acclimated to English conditions before the high-stakes Test series, which also forms a part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.