The Shubman Gill-led young Indian team arrived here from London this afternoon for the challenging five-match Test series against England, beginning on Friday, with both apprehension and determination. Apprehension, because most of the players have not played competitive red-ball cricket for over two months, and determination, because they know that they have the talent and skills to overcome whatever the England side throws at them over the next 45 days.

There have been quite a few positives for Team India, with three of the batters in the top five having good outings in the two first-class games for India ‘A’ against England Lions, with Karun Nair leading the show with an excellent double hundred at Canterbury, and a century by KL Rahul at Northampton. Barring them, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal too has had decent knocks in the two games. Also, at the intra-squad game in Beckenham over the weekend, batters like Gill and Sai Sudharsan would have had enough time in the middle to boost their confidence ahead of the first Test at the pacer-friendly Headingley.

India’s Shubman Gill (right) and Yashasvi Jaiswal during the intra-squad match on Saturday. Pic/BCCI X account