India vs India A: No Live Stream for Warm-Up Game as Team Prepares Behind Closed Doors in Kent

As India gears up for the high-stakes five-Test series against England starting June 20, their only warm-up match — a four-day intra-squad game against India A — has sparked major curiosity. But fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the action are in for disappointment. The match, scheduled to be held in Kent from June 13 to 16, will be played behind closed doors with no live broadcast or media access.

Naturally, this led to a spike in online searches about how to watch the game, with fans eager to see how the Shubman Gill-led side shapes up ahead of the big series. But there’s a clear reason behind the secrecy — head coach Gautam Gambhir doesn’t want to give England any early hints about India’s game plan. According to PTI, the Indian team management is keen to keep tactics, combinations, and strategies under wraps. 

This approach isn’t entirely new. India followed a similar method during their preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year in Australia, where they held a couple of private training sessions before the series began. While opinions may differ about the lack of transparency, the team is well within its rights to train in private — especially for such a crucial tour. The BCCI confirmed the nature of the warm-up fixture in a short statement: “June 13-16: Closed Intra squad game. No vision access to Media/Broadcast. On the final day of the squad game, a player/member of support staff will be made available to the media.” 

The match itself will serve as a key tune-up for several players who didn’t get red-ball exposure during the India A games. Due to the delayed end of IPL 2025, this is the only chance for many squad members to adjust back to Test match intensity. The simulation is expected to run across 360 overs over four days, ensuring the bowlers get enough time in the middle and the batting unit can work on rhythm and combinations. There’s also added interest because this is India’s first Test assignment without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom announced their retirements earlier this year. That means the team management has some big calls to make — particularly about the batting order. 

The match won’t have first-class status, but make no mistake — this is more than just a practice game. For Gambhir and his coaching staff, it’s a final opportunity to assess the squad, iron out any wrinkles, and step into the England series as prepared as possible. While fans won’t be able to follow the action live, they can expect updates at the end of the game, when a player or member of the support staff will speak to the media. Until then, all eyes will be on Headingley, where India’s red-ball road in England officially kicks off on June 20.