India Monday saw the conclusion of A's tour games against the England Lions, which included two four-day contests. Both matches, which were held in Northampton and Canterbury, resulted in ties. However, the games were more important to the 19 Indian players who participated than the outcomes themselves. Twelve of them had the opportunity to demonstrate their mettle in unfamiliar circumstances and persuade the BCCI selection panel. It was a useful warm-up for the next five-match Test series in England, which begins on June 20, for the last seven.

Seven players from the India A team have joined the senior team, despite the fact that the squad will remain in England for one last tour match—an intra-squad game against the Shubman Gill-led side in Beckenham, which begins next Monday (June 16). These include Shardul Thakur, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Karun Nair. Here is a look at how these players have prepared for the England Test series in advance of their last practice match.

Karun Nair ready for the No. 4 spot: The experienced hitter is not only prepared to return to the Indian Test XI for the first time in eight years, but he is also in a good position to fill the open position. Virat Kohli held the No. 4 position until he announced his retirement last month. Nair justified Ajit Agarkar's decision to promote him after his record-breaking Ranji Trophy performance last season by hitting a double century in the first game, where he batted at No. 3, and then scoring 40 and 15 in the second game at No. 4.

A major benefit is KL Rahul: The India star, who had a breakthrough season in Australia as an opener, was not originally a member of the India A team, but he reportedly requested to be included in the team after his IPL season ended prematurely. In the second game, Rahul took advantage of the opportunity by scoring a century in the first innings and then a fifty to get right into the swing of things.

Nevertheless, Jaiswal displayed some susceptibility to the moving ball as he prepared for his debut Test match in England. He scored 107 runs in four innings, including one score of fifty. On the other hand, Easwaran, the captain of the India A team and the backup opener for India, had a respectable performance with a fifty in each of the two matches, scoring 167 runs overall.

Regrettably, neither Reddy nor Thakur presented a strong argument for inclusion in the starting XI. Reddy was the front runner in the battle of the all-rounders after his performance in Australia, but despite the English conditions being more conducive to his pace-bowling style, he had trouble getting breakthroughs, only managing two wickets in two matches, while scoring 135 runs in four innings, including a fifty. In contrast, Thakur, who had failed to beat the Andhra star in the competition for a spot on the Indian team for the Australia trip last October, needed runs to prove his worth, but he only managed 80 runs in three innings. Even worse, his bowling was unable to bother the hitters. He took two wickets in the first match, but in the second, he was unable to get his name on the scoreboard.

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