Shubman Gill not ruled out of Perth Test, “will take a call”, says Morne Morkel

Team India did not have the most auspicious starts to the IND vs AUS Test series, when it was revealed that Shubman Gill would miss the 1st match in Perth due to a thumb fracture. Later, on Tuesday, it was revealed that it wasn’t a fracture, and that he would be playing in the second Test.

Shubman Gill for 1st IND vs AUS Test?

But now, as it emerges, that he could still be playing in the opening encounter starting November 22. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel in a press conference revealed, that things have improved for Shubman Gill and he might just make it to the first Test. He said, “he is improving on Day by day basis. We will take a call on the morning of the Test. He played well in the match simulation in the build up. So fingers crossed.”

Gill will be valuable for Team India on the entire tour, since he has the experience of playing Down Under in the 2020-21 series, that India won 2-1. In fact, in the three Tests he played there last time around, he managed to average 51, and scored 259 runs including two fifties.

Meanwhile, this is not the only concern plaguing the Indian team. Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami won’t be available for the 1st Test as well, that will massively hamper team’s chances. The management is most likely going to get KL Rahul to open the innings along with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

If Shubman is unfit, then Devdutt Padikkal will come in as the No. 3, while Virat Kohli will follow as the No. 4 batter for India.

India Squad for Australia Tests

India squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.