Worcester : With just a fortnight to go for the start of Test series, opener Murali Vijay and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will be looking to get into the groove in India A’s last first-class engagement, against England Lions at the County Ground in Worcester beginning on Monday.
Vijay and Rahane last played the one-off Test against Afghanistan and were not part of the limited overs squad.
Veteran opener Alastair Cook will turn out for England Lions, who will also have Test specialist Dawid Malan in their ranks.
Rahane and Vijay are certainties in the Indian Test squad but unlike others, they would need more red-ball match time, which is the reason why the selectors, after consultation with the team management and ‘A’ team coach Rahul Dravid, had chalked out a plan.
The team management is waiting for an update on fitness status of first wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (thumb fracture) and pacer Jasprit Bumrah (fractured finger).
In case Wriddhiman fails to make it in time, Rishabh Pant, who has played a couple of match-winning knocks for ‘A’ team across formats on the current tour, will be the favourite to become Dinesh Karthik’s back-up.