November 16, 2024: Shubman Gill, the young Indian opener, has faced an injury scare just ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. The injury occurred during an intra-squad training match at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground.
According to reports from ESPNCricinfo, Gill sustained an injury to his left hand while fielding in the slips and did not return to the field on the second day of the match. It remains uncertain whether this injury will affect his availability for the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Gill, who has been a mainstay for India at number three in Test matches over the past year, was also in contention to open the batting in the Border-Gavaskar series, potentially alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. This situation becomes particularly crucial given that Rohit Sharma, India’s Test captain, has just welcomed his second child with wife Ritika. It is still unclear whether Rohit will be available for the first Test, with the family situation potentially affecting his participation.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul, another experienced opening option, also had a concern during the same intra-squad match. He was struck on the elbow by a short delivery on Day 1 and did not return to play on the following day. His injury adds further uncertainty to India’s opening options for the first Test.
If both Gill and Rahul are unavailable, Abhimanyu Easwaran could be another potential candidate for the opening spot. However, Easwaran’s recent form in the India A-Australia A series was disappointing, with scores of 0, 7, 17, and 12, which raises questions about his readiness for the big stage.
Gill’s Form & Impact
Despite the injury scare, Gill’s form in the series has been excellent. In the intra-squad match, he scored 28 in his first innings before being dismissed, but returned to score an unbeaten 42 in his second innings. Gill has proven his worth at number three, where he has scored 926 runs in 14 Test matches at an average of 42.09, including three centuries and three fifties. His highest score at number three is 119*.
This year, Gill has been in exceptional form, amassing 806 runs in 19 innings at an average of 47.41, including three centuries and three fifties, with a highest score of 119*.
Upcoming Border-Gavaskar Series
The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia begins on November 22 at Optus Stadium, Perth. Following the first Test, the series will continue with the second Test, a day-night match at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18, before concluding with the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26 to 30. The series will wrap up with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3 to 7.
With key players like Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill nursing injuries, India’s opening pair remains uncertain as the series looms large. The first Test will be a crucial contest, and fans will be eager to see how the team responds to the challenges posed by Australia.
