BCCI mandates warm-up matches for India's SENA tours

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to make warm-up matches mandatory for the Indian team ahead of Test series in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).

Former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed support for the move, describing it as a step in the right direction compared to previous methods like shadow A-team tours. However, Chopra raised concerns regarding the quality of opposition in these matches. He noted that while historical tours involved playing strong county sides, modern opponents often field second-string players, which may diminish the effectiveness of the preparation.

The decision follows a high-level BCCI meeting held ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. The meeting included officials and figures such as Devajit Saikia, Gautam Gambhir, and VVS Laxman, with players Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer also participating in discussions. Additionally, the BCCI emphasized that player workload management, specifically regarding the fitness of players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, remains a priority.