As part of their final preparations for the upcoming Test series against England, the Indian cricket team kicked off an intra-squad practice match on Friday, June 13. This internal match, featuring players from both the India and India A squads, also marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
However, much to the disappointment of fans, the match is not being broadcast on any TV channel or digital platform. The game is being played entirely behind closed doors, with no access granted to broadcasters, journalists, or the public. According to team management and head coach Gautam Gambhir, this is a deliberate move to maintain complete strategic confidentiality.
In an official statement, the BCCI noted:
“June 13–16: Closed intrasquad 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.”
While India A’s recent matches against the England Lions were streamed on JioCinema and Hotstar and even shown on TV, this intra-squad game is an exception. The decision to restrict access is primarily driven by a desire to avoid revealing key tactics, player form, and team combinations ahead of the Test series.
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The coaching staff wants to simulate a competitive match atmosphere internally without offering any insight to future opponents. This closed-door approach is being used as a tool for assessment and strategic fine-tuning, rather than public entertainment.
Fans may still receive occasional score updates or brief summaries from the BCCI or select cricket outlets, but those details will likely remain limited. For now, this match serves purely as a behind-the-scenes evaluation, with an emphasis on preparation over publicity.
