Team India to play two T20 warm-up games on England tour

Team India is set to play two T20 warm-up games against Derbyshire and Northamptonshire on their tour of England later this year. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the same on Saturday (April 9). The two matches will be played on July 1 and 3 respectively. A second-stringed Indian team is expected to take part in these fixtures as both games will clash with the postponed fifth and final Test between India and England.

Apparently, the match was suspended last year due to the COVID-19 crisis and hence, the series will be concluded on this year’s tour. The decisive Test will get underway on July 1 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. India lead the inconclusive series 2-1 and would be raring to record a rare Test series win on England soil.

First-choice players to be in the Test squad

The first-choice players are expected to be in the Test team while the young and inexperienced faces will participate in the warm-up games. “India will travel to The Incora County Ground to face Derbyshire in a Twenty20 Tour Fixture on Friday 1 July (7 pm start). The number-one ranked T20 side in the world will continue their ICC Twenty20 World Cup preparations against a Derbyshire side,” Derbyshire announced on its website.

“Northamptonshire will welcome India to Wantage Road this summer for a one-off T20 tour match,” Northamptonshire wrote. Meanwhile, the first practice match will be played at the Incora County Ground in Derby, while the second game will be held at the County Ground in Northampton.

Besides the inconclusive Test, India and England will cross swords in three T20Is and as many ODIs, starting from July 7 and July 12 respectively. Before taking on the Three Lions, India are also slated to meet Ireland in two T20Is, on June 26 and 28, respectively.

Just like the warm-up fixtures, the Men in Blue are all but likely to field a depleted team against the Irish side. However, players of the Test team are expected to take part in the white-ball leg of the England tour.