India’s preparations for the high-stakes Test series in England are in full swing, with Shubman Gill leading the charge. The team has already touched down in the UK and is settling into a rigorous training schedule ahead of the five-match series, which starts on June 20. Several members of the senior squad have already featured in two competitive first-class games against the England Lions, while an intra-squad fixture is slated for Friday at the Beckenham County Ground.
The Indian contingent has made Beckenham its temporary home base, where the coaching staff, led by newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the players are well-acclimatised. In a move that underlines the team’s meticulous planning, Gambhir personally requested pitch curator Josh Marden to produce surfaces that mirror what they might encounter during the actual Test series.
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Josh Marden confirmed the interaction, stating, “Yes, Gautam and the coaching group were very clear—they didn’t want flat tracks or overly grassy ones, but pitches that simulate real match conditions. The aim is quality preparation, not just throwdowns or extended net sessions. We tweaked the grass cover, adjusted the width of the nets, and extended the lengths. The feedback from the staff has been really positive.”
With English conditions traditionally favouring seam and swing, the focus is inevitably on India’s pace unit. Jasprit Bumrah, returning to red-ball cricket cautiously, will feature in only three of the five Tests due to workload management.
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While Marden hasn’t spoken directly with Bumrah, he revealed that the coaching team has relayed performance-specific feedback focused on match-intensity workloads rather than mere volume. As the first assignment in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle, this series holds significant weight. Under Gill’s leadership and Gambhir’s strategic direction, India will be keen to set the tone early in what promises to be a grueling and defining tour.
