No. 3 batter suffers hairline fracture
MUMBAI: Team India has suffered a significant setback just a week before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener. Shubman Gill, the team's No. 3 batter, sustained a left-thumb injury while fielding in the slips during match simulation in Perth on Saturday.
TOI has learned that Gill is dealing with a hairline fracture on his thumb and has been "ruled out" of the first Test against Australia, starting November 22.
"He hurt his thumb while fielding in the slips. He was sent for scans, and it seems he's suffering from a hairline fracture. He will miss the first Test due to the injury but should return for the second," a reliable BCCI source told TOI. Gill, who batted twice on Friday, scored 28 in his first outing before being caught at gully off Navdeep.
The 25-year-old, who scored 90 and 1 in India's last Test against New Zealand in Mumbai (a series India lost 3-0), has valuable experience in Australian conditions, having performed well during India's previous tour Down Under.
Gill's absence raises questions about who will take the crucial No 3 spot. In October, during the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Virat Kohli stepped into the position after Gill was sidelined with a stiff neck. Kohli scored 0 and 70 in that match, marking his return to the one-down slot after eight years.
Another candidate for the slot is KL Rahul. Ahead of the Australia tour, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Rahul's versatility, stating, "Rahul can bat in the top order, he can bat at No. 3, he can play at No. 6. If needed, he can do the job for us."
Rohit unlikely to travel for first Test
Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma is unlikely to fly to Perth for the first Test after he and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, welcomed a baby boy on Friday night.
"It seems like he wants to spend some time with his family before leaving for Australia for what will be a very long tour. Also, it takes time to adjust to the conditions in Australia, so there's no point in arriving at the 11th hour and playing a Test on a bouncy Perth pitch. Apparently, he has communicated to the BCCI that he will join the team before the second Test in Adelaide. There's a long gap between the first and second Tests, and it makes sense for him to play in the tour match at Canberra, starting Nov. 30, before the second Test," a source said.
Opening options
With Gill ruled out and Rohit likely unavailable for the first Test, the Indian team management and selectors may ask one of the India A players - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, or Devdutt Padikkal - to stay back for the first Test. "Ruturaj batted well in the match simulation at Perth today, and he's got an idea of the Aussie conditions by now. He can fit into the middle order, where he's batted in domestic cricket this season, easily. There's a possibility he may be asked to stay back," a source said.
Sudharsan, who has played four white-ball matches for India and impressed in county cricket for Surrey, is yet to earn his maiden Test call-up. Padikkal, who debuted against England earlier in 2024 and scored a half-century (65), was excluded from the squad for this tour.
No injury concerns for Rahul and Kohli
Rahul, who was struck on the elbow by a delivery from Prasidh Krishna during practice, is doing fine. Virat Kohli, who also had a minor injury scare, was cleared after scans and was seen batting in the nets.
