Sat. Jun 14th, 2025

India vs India an Intra-Squad Match: Broadcast and Streaming Information

With Team India preparing for the vital five-match Test series against England, an important part of their preparation comes in the shape of a four-day intra-squad match. India is playing against India A – the match will begin on Friday, June 13, at the Kent County Cricket Club ground in Beckenham. A warm up match, but with confirmed interest and intensity this will be an exciting contest.

The significance of this match will not only be about game plans but for assessing form, fitness and combinations ahead of a demanding tour to the once fearsome England team. There are several unknowns in the mix with some fresh faces and a few known names returning for this tour – the interest from fans has been significant for that reason and so there will be a somewhat unexpected twist concerning audiences.

Broadcast and Streaming: What You Need to Know

The India Vs India A internal fixture will be a closed-door match so it won’t be televised or streamed live. The BCCI have chosen to have the match off-camera therefore fans cannot watch the match whether on television or digitally.

The decision by the BCCI may be surprising to some given the massive Indian cricket market and the growing trend of streaming practice and intra-squad matches. However, in keeping the match private, this gives the team freedom to make mistakes, manage workloads and attempt a different approach.

Match Information at a Glance

Match: India vs India A (Intra-squad warm-up match)
Venue: Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham
Start date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM local | 3:30 PM IST
Telecast/Streaming: Not available (this is closed doors)

Why Does This Match Matters?

This match is India’s only timing game before the England Test series thus it is crucial in making the vital adjustments and fine-tuning strategy. This is a significant tour for the team which will be their first tour after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired from the longest format of the game. Furthermore, the team is in a transition phase.

The four-day game serves as a great opportunity to be able to leverage:

Try some different combinations
To get some players onto the park returning from injury
Observe younger players against senior pros
Conditions and pitch that will somewhat resemble England.

Who’s Playing?

Both teams are stacked with a mix of youth and experience. All 18 squad members selected for the main series are expected to participate, split across the two squads.

Key players from the India senior team include:

Shubman Gill (Captain)
KL Rahul
Karun Nair
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Dhruv Jurel
Shardul Thakur
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Nitish Kumar Reddy

Additionally, Harshit Rana, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, and Mukesh Kumar have joined the squad in England and are likely to play a role in this warm-up.

Recent Form and Build-up

The India A team recently toured England, where they played two unofficial Test matches against the England Lions. Both matches ended in draws, but both will give the players a good indication of form and readiness for match situations.

Easwaran, Jaiswal, and Rahul will be evaluated very closely, and performances from this match will likely have a significant impact on their final roles in the first Test.

India’s First Test and WTC Context

This series is not just a bilateral contest; it is also the first Test series of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for India. Having narrowly missed out on the 2025 WTC final, India will be keen to start strong in this new cycle.

Future venues for the series include:

Edgbaston
Lord’s
Old Trafford
The Oval

Each of these grounds poses unique challenges, and this warm-up is a key step in understanding pitch behavior and testing conditions.

Why No Broadcast or Streaming?

The BCCI and team management likely have different reasons to avoid a live broadcast for example:

Focus on team bonding and internal team evaluation without external pressures.
Try out new player roles and match-ups that are better to stay private.
Evaluate players’ workloads coming off any injuries or lengthy distractions.
Reduce media scrutiny – there is no harm in making a mistake that is not broadcast publicly..

While this makes fan access more difficult, this is a common practice for ‘behind closed doors’ team meetings ahead of significant tours.

Fan Expectations and Reactions

Fans are unquestionably disappointed. The absence of a live telecast or even highlights mean fans cannot watch their favourite players, especially during a phase of transition. With Shubman Gill leading the team and stars Kohli and Rohit missing, the fan base is eager to see how the team takes shape.

That said, this match will determine India’s strategy and combination for the long series. It could also determine:

Who will partner Gill at the top?
Whether Rahul plays as a batter or keeper?
What is the priority among the fast bowlers?
The middle-order will stabilise post-Kohli

Where to Follow the Match?

While no official broadcast or stream is available, cricket fans can stay updated through:

BCCI’s official social media handles (Twitter, Instagram)
Live text commentary from cricket websites like Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo
News highlights and post-match analysis by leading cricket portals

Final Thoughts

The India vs India intra-squad match may not be shown to the viewers but is an important stepping stone for what is to come. It will allow India to field its bench strength, experiment with new leaders, and lay the ground for starting their WTC 2025-27 journey.

It’s worth following cricket portals for news updates, as this hidden encounter may hold many answers for India’s roadmap leading into the England series.