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With the highly-anticipated five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy less than a week from start, both the teams are toiling hard to start the series on a positive note. Two days ahead of the first Test, set to be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth, India’s bowling coach Morner Morkel provided a big update on injured Shubman Gill.
It is to be noted that Shubman Gill suffered a hairline fracture to his left thumb during the match simulations at the WACA Stadium in Perth on Saturday, November 16. Although, he has to leave the field immediately after sustaining the blow but returned to the field, participating in low key practice sessions.
Call on Shubman Gill to be taken on morning of Perth Test: Morne Morkel
Addressing the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, November 20, Morkel shared a big update on Shubman Gill, who still remains in contention to feature in the Perth Test, starting November 22. Morkel said that the team has their “fingers crossed” and an update on him will be taken on the morning of the first Test.
“Shubman is improving every day. Obviously picked up a nasty blow in that warm-up game. With him, it’s going to be a day-to-day sort of process. Fingers crossed for that improvement, I think we will wait to make on the morning of the Test match,” Morkel said on Wednesday. It is to be noted that the team management has a daunting task in front of them I order to finalise their playing XI for the opening Test.
With Gill’s participation in jeopardy and Rohit Sharma unavailable for Perth Test, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul is in line to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, several reports have also added that Nitish Kumar Reddy is in line to make his Test debut, however, a final call on the XI is likely to be taken in a day or to.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
