Similar to their preparation for the tour of Australia, India will only play one warm-up match before the start of the five-match series against England. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has also requested secrecy, as they did last November in Perth. However, unlike the last foreign tour, which was just a match simulation, this one will be a real four-day intra-squad warm-up game against India A in Beckenham, Kent, beginning Friday.

Before their trip to Australia, India did arrange a similar event, but at the last minute, the management decided to simulate matches instead of playing a real one in order to get ready for the series. In addition, the BCCI gave the WACA officials, who were in charge of the Indian team's stay prior to the series' start in Perth, explicit orders that the practice match be played behind closed doors, suggesting that fans would not be able to see it. In order to avoid revealing any secrets to the opposition, India's whole training at the old Perth venue was actually kept a secret.

This time, Gambhir has advocated for it. The former Indian batter has suggested a "closed-door" intra-squad match "to prevent the opposition from getting any ideas on the tactical front," mimicking a long-established custom among European football teams, according to a PTI report.

The team's possible batting line-up, which has been the subject of much discussion in the wake of Virat Kohli's and Rohit Sharma's Test retirements, will be suggested by the 360 overs of match practice. Additionally, it will give the team management an opportunity to let the bowling group get enough of overs under their belts.

Attention will also be on Jasprit Bumrah, who will be playing a red-ball match for the first time in six months. Having only participated in the IPL since his return from a lower back stress injury, he will also have the opportunity to assess his fitness by bowling several spells.

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