[Watch] Shubman Gill trains on center wicket after IND vs NZ 1st Test 2024
Team India batter Shubman Gill was seen engaging in batting drills on the center wicket after the first Test against New Zealand on Sunday, October 20, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The 25-year-old missed the first Test due to a stiff neck. However, he appears to have fully recovered, as he was spotted practicing on the center wicket with Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep bowling to him.
Here are videos of Shubman Gill batting:
Gill last featured in the second match of the two-Test series against Bangladesh, scoring 39 and 6 in his two innings. The hosts secured a seven-wicket victory.
The Punjab-born cricketer has played 27 Tests, accumulating 1,656 runs at an average of 36.80, including six fifties and five centuries. He is expected to be part of the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand, which begins on Thursday, October 24, in Pune.
New Zealand register impressive eight-wicket victory in first Test against India
After the first day was washed out due to rain, India won the toss and opted to bat first on Day 2 in overcast conditions. The hosts had a disastrous outing, getting bowled out for just 46 runs—India's third-lowest total in Test history. Matt Henry was the standout bowler for the Black Caps, claiming five wickets.
In response, New Zealand scored 402 runs, taking a commanding lead of 356. Rachin Ravindra made a brilliant century with 134 runs, while Devon Conway (91) and Tim Southee (65) also contributed valuable runs.
In India's second innings, captain Rohit Sharma (52) and former skipper Virat Kohli (70) initiated a fightback. Sarfaraz Khan was exceptional, scoring 150 runs off 195 balls, while Rishabh Pant narrowly missed a century, finishing with 99 runs off 105 balls.
However, the hosts crumbled, going from 408-3 to 462 all out, leaving New Zealand with a target of just 107 runs. Will Young (48*) and Rachin (39*) led the visitors to a comfortable eight-wicket victory, giving them an early lead in the series.