IND A 1st Innings 319-7 (83 Overs)

Despite being an ace batter of team India, KL Rahul was desperate to participate in England Lions vs. India A 2nd unofficial test to make himself prepared at the highest order for the upcoming five-match Test series, starting from June 20. 

The form Rahul showed in the IPL 2025 continued in the preparatory match as well. In a fresh green wicket, the right-handed batter showed his skills and techniques a batter needs to survive in a typical English condition. KL Rahul's 116 in Northampton proved to be an innings saver for the traveling side. 

On the other hand, with the inclusion of Chris Woakes, the bowling department of the England Lions looked more promising than in the first unofficial Test. Woakes is one of the senior players who set out to make a comeback in the squad after sustaining an injury. 

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Yashasvi Jaiswal and India Team captain Abhimanyu Easwaran again departed early in the innings. After their dismissals, Rahul and Karun Nair, who recorded a double century in the previous match, this time missed a half-century only by 9 runs. Under tough conditions, Dhruv Jurel again delivered an appreciable innings by scoring 52 runs off 87 balls. England bowlers find it difficult to break the partnership between Rahul and Jurel. The batters combined to tack on a 121-run, 159-ball partnership to lead their team to a respectable total. 

England Lions will try best to take the driving seat in Day 2

Including the main squad and the India A team, there are multiple candidates to play as the opener. While Jaiswal and Easwaran struggled against the shining new ball, Rahul came and captured the hearts of cricket fans batting as an opener. BCCI selectors may feel some relief after watching the calm and controlled innings from the versatile player, who is often utilized to control damage. 

The rain interrupted Day 1 of the 2nd unofficial Test, which was pretty enjoyable for the spectators at County Ground. Both teams tried to do their best to tilt the momentum of the innings. Along with Woakes, George Hill's 18-over spell was impressive with a couple of wickets, including the scalp of Rahul. The beginning of Day 2 can be hard for India A, as all the full-time batters went back to the hut and left the lower order to snatch some more runs.