Digital Desk, New Delhi. Indian Test captain Shubman Gill is fully fit for the first Test against Sri Lanka. India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule clarified that Gill’s exclusion for the first two days of the warm-up match was a precautionary measure. Gill is ready to play in the first Test, which begins in Galle on August 15th.
Gill injured his right finger during practice on Thursday. Due to this, he was rested for the first two days of the practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. However, he returned to the field in the second innings and scored 44 runs while opening the innings. He didn’t appear to have any issues with his batting.
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‘Gill is absolutely fit’
In the post-match press conference, Bahutule stated that there was no cause for concern regarding Gill. The team management’s decision to not play him for the first two days was purely a precautionary measure. He added that Gill had been training regularly and his batting performance in the second innings was also good. This clearly shows that he is ready for the Test match.
Gill is preparing according to Sri Lankan bowlers
Bahutule said Gill is very serious about his preparation and has practiced in a specific way, keeping Sri Lanka’s bowling attack in mind.
Gill practiced batting in conditions similar to those faced by Sri Lankan bowlers with the team’s net bowlers. According to Bahutule, Gill pays attention to even the smallest details and leaves no stone unturned in his preparation.
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Padikkal made a strong claim by scoring 142 runs
Meanwhile, Devdutt Padikkal has also strengthened his case for a place in the playing XI for the first Test. He scored an unbeaten 142 in the first innings of the practice match. The exclusion of Sai Sudarshan from the series has opened the door for Padikkal. Sudarshan is out of the series due to a stress reaction in his right toe.
Bahutule said that Padikkal has taken full advantage of the opportunity he has been given. He batted freely and boosted his confidence by scoring big innings. However, the final decision on the playing XI will be made only after seeing the Galle pitch. The team management will decide whether to include Padikkal in the final XI.