Shubman Gill Not Ruled Out Yet for First Test Against Australia
In Short
- Shubman Gill’s fitness for the first Test against Australia will be decided on match day after his thumb injury.
- Devdutt Padikkal is expected to replace Gill at No. 3 if he’s unfit to play.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy, a young all-rounder, might make his Test debut in Perth.
- Mohammed Shami’s return to form is being closely monitored, but he won’t be rushed into international duty.
India is waiting to see if Shubman Gill will be fit for the first Test against Australia in Perth, starting on November 22. He injured his thumb while fielding in a practice match. Though he’s improving every day, the team will decide on the morning of the match if he can play.
Gill has been in great form recently, scoring over 800 runs this season. His absence could be tough for the team, especially since captain Rohit Sharma is also out for the match. If Gill can’t play, Devdutt Padikkal is likely to replace him at No. 3 in the batting order.
India is also looking at Nitish Kumar Reddy, a 21-year-old all-rounder, who might make his Test debut in Perth. Morkel thinks Reddy could be helpful with both the bat and ball, especially on the fast Perth pitch. His ability to support the bowlers could be very important for the team.
The team is also watching Mohammed Shami’s recovery closely. After being injured for a year, Shami recently returned to domestic cricket, taking seven wickets. While he’s in good form, Morkel said they won’t rush him back into international cricket too soon.
With key players missing or recovering, India faces a big challenge in the upcoming series. But the team is hopeful that their younger players will rise to the occasion, with support from experienced leaders like Jasprit Bumrah.
