Shubman Gill injured, Rohit Sharma uncertain: Selection dilemmas for India ahead of 1st BGT 2024-25 Test in Perth
An injury to Shubman Gill has added to Team India's woes ahead of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test against Australia in Perth, starting November 22. The 25-year-old batter hurt his left thumb on Day 2 of the visitors’ intra-squad training match at the WACA.
As per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Gill picked up the injury while fielding in the slips. He left the field and did not return to action later. There is no official update about the right-handed batter's availability for the first Test in Perth. A report in Cricbuzz stated 'that initial reports suggest a hairline fracture and as a result, Gill is set to miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener'.
While the Punjab cricketer has batted at No. 3 in Tests lately, he was among the options India had as Yashasvi Jaiswal's opening partner for Perth in the event of skipper Rohit Sharma's unavailability. The elegant batter took strike twice on Day 1 of India's match simulation, scoring 28 and 42*, respectively.
Rohit Sharma to miss Perth Test: Reports
Skipper Rohit had stayed back in India to be with his family for the birth of his second child. On Friday, November 15, Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh welcomed a baby boy. Following the good news, Indian fans were hopeful of the opening batter's availability for the first Test against Australia in Perth.
According to a report in The Times of India, Rohit is set to miss the first Test. Apparently, the Indian captain has communicated his decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stakeholders.
"Yes, Rohit Sharma will not be featuring in the first Test. He wants to spend some more time with his family and the new-born and the Indian cricket board completely respects his decision," TOI quoted an official close to developments as saying.
In case, Rohit does not feature in the Perth Test, vice-captain and lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah will captain the team. Bumrah had earlier led India during the rescheduled Test against England in Birmingham in July 2022. Rohit had missed that match after testing positive for COVID-19.
Amid injury concerns, India ponder upon adding Devdutt Padikkal or Sai Sudharsan to squad: Reports
The injury to Gill is not the only fitness concern for India ahead of the opening 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match in Perth. KL Rahul had left the field on the opening day of India's match simulation on Friday after being struck on the elbow by a short ball. The right-hander did not return to bat a second time and was missing from action on Saturday as well.
Some reports in the Australian media claimed that Virat Kohli underwent scans on Thursday for an unknown injury. However, he looked pretty comfortable during his batting stints in the match simulation on Friday. Earlier, Sarfaraz Khan was struck on the elbow during a practice session at the WACA.
As per a report in the Times of India, amid the injury concerns, the visitors are contemplating adding at least one batter - Devdutt Padikkal or Sai Sudharsan - from the India A squad to the main squad. A decision could be made soon as the India A squad is scheduled to fly out of Perth around midnight on November 17. A source close to the development was quoted as telling TOI:
"The final call will be with the coach, captain and selectors but there is a strong possibility of management asking one specialist top-order batter to stay back for the series opener. Abhimanyu Easwaran is already there but one of Sai or Devdutt could well stay back too."
Easwaran has been picked as one of the specialist openers in India's squad for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 29-year-old played in both the unofficial Tests between India A and Australia A but struggled to make an impact. Easwaran was dismissed for 7 & 12 in the first unofficial Test in Mackay and followed it up with scores of 0 & 17 in Melbourne.