KL Rahul continued his impressive run with the bat, notching yet another half-century on English soil, while new Test captain Shubman Gill also found form with a fluent fifty on the opening day of India’s intra-squad game in Kent. The match, being played behind closed doors, serves as the final preparation for the Indian team ahead of the highly anticipated five-match Test series against England, beginning on June 20.
Unlike the more open-format warm-up games like India A vs England Lions, this intra-squad fixture, scheduled from June 13 to 16, has no live coverage, official scorecard, or media access. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has restricted all information flow from the venue. However, fans received a rare update when the BCCI shared a social media post revealing key highlights.
“A solid Opening Day in the Intra-Squad game! Half-centuries for KL Rahul & Captain Shubman Gill. Shardul Thakur amongst the wickets,” the post read.
ALSO READ: ICC Rejects India’s Bid to Host WTC Final, England to Retain Rights Until 2031
According to Sportstar, a formal media briefing by a BCCI official is expected on the final day to summarize individual performances and player updates.
📍 Beckenham
A solid Opening Day in the Intra-Squad game!
Half-centuries for KL Rahul & Captain Shubman Gill 👌 👌
Shardul Thakur amongst the wickets 👍 👍 pic.twitter.com/7lfEFoL4KE
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 13, 2025
Day 1 ✅
Prasidh Krishna wraps up the opening day of the intra-squad game in Beckenham 🏏
WATCH 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @prasidh43
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2025
Meanwhile, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had to urgently return home due to a medical emergency. His mother, Seema Gambhir, suffered a heart attack and is currently in the ICU in New Delhi. A BCCI source confirmed to PTI, “Gautam’s mother had a heart attack on Wednesday. He and his family returned to Delhi on Thursday.”
WATCH – Steve Smith Walks Off with Finger Injury After Costly Drop in WTC Final
Encouragingly, there are early signs of improvement in her condition. If her recovery continues as expected, Gambhir is likely to rejoin the Indian team in England before the opening Test. “His mother is showing signs of recovery… He will most likely be back in the UK before the first Test,” the source added.
