Shubman Gill fit for Sri Lanka Test series? India provide major update after injury scare

New Delhi: Team India provided a positive update on captain Shubman Gill after he suffered an injury scare during the opening day of the recently concluded three-day against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. Gill was hit on his right hand during the visitors’ training session in Colombo ahead of the warm-up match.

The injury forced him to miss the opening day of the warm-up game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI as senior batter KL Rahul led India in his absence. The Indian team management on Sunday provided a positive update on Gill’s injury, confirming that the Indian skipper will be available for the upcoming two-match Test series against .

After being hit on his right hand, Gill missed the opening day of the action in the warm-up game, however, he made his return on the third and final day. The right-hander opened the batting for India in their chase of 207 runs in their second innings. He was also seen facing the bowlers in the nets before Day 3, signalling that he is on the right track with his recovery.

After India won the practice match by six wickets, spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule provided an update on Gill’s injury in the post-match press conference. Bahutule said Gill was not allowed to take the field initially due to precautionary reasons and that there are no significant concerns as far as his injury is concerned.

“It was just a precaution more than anything else. And he has been absolutely fine. He has been doing his training. And the management decided that we could just take that precaution of not putting him into that first day,” said India’s spin-bowling coach Bahutule.

Gill scored 44 runs off 54 balls for India in their second innings after returning from his injury. He looked in fine form and hit seven boundaries en route to his 44-run knock. He was dismissed by spinner Keshara Nuwantha and missed out on a well-deserved fifty.

Shubman Gill preparing to counter Sri Lanka’s spin threat

Bahutule revealed Gill has been working hard in training to work on his game against spin to ensure he is well prepared for the conditions ahead of the start of the Test series against Sri Lanka. India’s spin-bowling coach lauded the skipper for his meticulous approach in training and revealed how Gill’s preparations differ as per the opposition and the conditions.

“Shubman takes his preparation very seriously. And he is a very meticulous boy. And he understands that whatever is the demand for that particular series with the attack, which has been successful for the Sri Lankan team. His preparation is done accordingly,” said Bahutule.

Gill’s comeback is a huge positive for India, who have already been ravaged by multiple injuries to key players ahead of the Test series. India are without the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the squad, while batter Sai Sudharsan has also been replaced by Sarfaraz Khan after failing to recover in time for the series.

India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, starting August 15th.