The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is devising a plan to guarantee that players are ready for the five-match Test series against England in June and July, during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), which is planned to run from March 22 to May 25. The BCCI wants to strike a balance between IPL and Test cricket because of the difficulties involved in switching between formats.
Historically, India has not performed well in Test series played in England right after the IPL.
The 2014 and 2018 series finished in 3-1 and 4-1 losses, respectively, and the 2011 tour ended in a 4-0 thumping. Before the Covid-19 epidemic interrupted the series in 2021, the visitors led 2-1. The postponed final Test match played a year later ended in a 2-2 draw.
The BCCI is making sure that players stay up to date with red-ball cricket despite the IPL’s white-ball action, given the ongoing challenges in England. This plan follows a string of recent failures in Test matches, such as a 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a 3-0 home loss to New Zealand.
The goal of these sessions is to maintain the rhythm of the test specialists.
The board is thinking of putting into action a scheme that would give some players special red-ball practice sessions during the IPL. These sessions will focus on maintaining the Test specialists’ rhythm and making sure they are both technically and mentally ready for the English environment. Individual athletes will also be given access to non-traditional training exercises.
During the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, members of the Indian team management and BCCI authorities met in Dubai to explore this plan. After the competition ends on March 9, more discussions are anticipated. In the past, during the IPL, the BCCI has let players to concentrate entirely on their franchise obligations. There will undoubtedly be a change in strategy, though, given the significance of the England Test series.
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