India's batting star Shubman Gill faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the second Test against Australia, slated to begin on December 6 in Adelaide. Gill, who missed the opening match due to a thumb injury sustained during an intra-squad practice game at the WACA Ground, remains doubtful for selection. Ahead of the clash at the Adelaide Oval, India will play a pink-ball warm-up match against the Australia Prime Minister's XI starting Saturday in Canberra. Reports suggest Gill is highly unlikely to feature in this practice match, and his availability for the second Test is also in question.
"Gill was advised a 10-14 day rest by the medical specialist after suffering that injury. He won't play in the practice match on the weekend, and is doubtful at the moment for the second Test too. Let's see how much his injury has healed, how his finger feels. Even after it has healed, he'll need some quality practice before playing a Test match," the report claimed.
Shami’s Status Remains Unchanged
Meanwhile, speculation regarding pacer Mohammed Shami’s travel to Australia has been dismissed. Shami, who recently recovered from knee surgery, is not expected to join the squad anytime soon. Social media buzz hinted at his possible departure for Australia, but reports clarified that the current fast-bowling unit, which impressed during the first Test, will continue as planned.
“There hasn’t been any official discussion about sending Shami to Australia. The bowlers selected for the series opener in Perth have performed their duties well,” stated the report.
Sharma’s Return Brings Selection Dilemmas
Rohit Sharma, making a comeback as captain, is set to replace youngster Devdutt Padikkal in the playing XI for the second Test. However, KL Rahul’s form in the ongoing pink-ball practice game has sparked debates about the batting order. If Gill is deemed unfit, Rahul may slot in at number three, but some believe Rohit could serve the team better by batting in the middle order, possibly at five or six.
Rahul, initially viewed as a temporary opener in Rohit’s absence, has emerged as India’s most reliable batter in Perth, with scores of 26 and 77 across both innings. His technical finesse and adaptability might influence India’s decision-making for the crucial Test in Adelaide.
As the team navigates these uncertainties, fans eagerly await clarity on Gill’s recovery and the final XI’s composition for the next high-stakes encounter.