Shubman Gill will miss the Perth test due to a fractured thumb on his left hand. ESPNcricinfo learned that the fracture was confirmed on Saturday after Gill attempted a low catch at the slips on the second day of India’s simulated training game.
The BCCI is yet to officially release an update on Gill’s injury, but it is understood that while the fracture is minor, the top-order batsman could be in a race to reach the second Test, a day-night match that starts after a long gap, from December 6 in Adelaide, due to a two-day warm-up match between India and the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra from November 30.
Gill’s absence in Perth means India will now have to reorganize their batting plans for the first Test starting on November 22. With no certainty yet on Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s availability for the first Test, India will have to fill two vacant spots at the top of the order – an opening partner for Yashasvi Jaiswal and the No. 3 – if Rohit does not arrive. on time.
The options for India are KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran, although Devdutt Padikkal, who was recently with India A on the shadow tour, will also remain with the Indian team.
To make up for Rohit’s possible absence, Rahul opened the batting in the second four-day game against Australia A and in the simulated training game among the Indian players at the WACA before the first match of the series at the Optus Stadium. After scoring 4 and 10 against Australia A at the MCG, Rahul was hit on the right elbow by a rising delivery from tall and fast Prasidh Krishna on Friday. He did not bat again that day but returned to the nets on Sunday.
