Team India Issues Shubman Gill Fitness Update For 1st Test Vs Sri Lanka

Team India issues Shubman Gill update for 1st Test vs SL [Source: ICC, AFP]

Team India captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury scare ahead of their warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI in Colombo. Gill, who was supposed to feature on the first day of the practice match as India's captain, missed out on the opportunity due to a finger injury he suffered while practising in the nets. 

Gill injured his ring finger during the net session while batting and practising slip catching. While the injury was minor, as a precautionary measure, he was ruled out of the first two days of the practice match. 

Now, as injury concerns grew, Sairaj Bahutule, Team India's spin-bowling coach, issued the Shubman Gill fitness update for the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting on August 15. 

Will Shubman Gill Play IND vs SL 1st Test?

After Gill's promising innings on the final day of the IND vs SL-XI warm-up match, Bahutule, on behalf of the team management, issued an official injury update on the Indian cricketer. 

"It was just a precaution more than anything else, practising catching with one hand. And he has been absolutely fine. He has been doing his training. The management decided that we could just take that precaution of not putting him into that first day of the practice match," Bahutule said.

Sairaj Bahutule added that the team management was also very happy to see Gill bat on the final day, which eliminated any doubts that he would struggle because of his finger injury. The former Indian cricketer revealed that Gill is all but certain to feature in the first Test of the two-match series. 

"I think everything, the way he batted in the second innings, was again flawless. He is very much ready for the Test match,” Bahutule added.

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How Did Gill Perform After Coming Out of Injury?

Gill came out to bat as an opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal during India's second innings in the warm-up match. The duo opened the innings, with Jaiswal scoring 61 runs and Gill putting up a 54-ball 44 at a strike rate of 81.48. 

Gill looked impressive on the field before he was dismissed by Keshara Nuwantha in the 21st over. His fluent knock was an indication that he would be able to take the field in the Test series opener. Sairaj Bahutule's post-match comments further boosted his chances of featuring in the Galle Test. 

Shubman Gill To Open In IND vs SL Tests?

The injury concern of Gill was a bit troubling for the cricket team, and it had already added a headache for the Gautam Gambhir-led management over who would play in Gill's place. 

Gill, who has usually taken up the number four batting position since the England series in 2025, would likely continue in that position. He used to open during his early Test career from 2020 to 2023. 

Given the starts provided by Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, the team management would like to see the opening pair continue in the Sri Lanka tour, with Shubman Gill anchoring the innings at number four. 

Interestingly, Gill has the highest average at number four, with an average of 88.75 in Tests, while also having six centuries and one half-century in the same batting position from 14 innings.

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