Colombo: India captain Shubman Gill suffered a finger injury during a training session ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, raising concerns over his availability for the series opener. In Gill’s absence, senior batter KL Rahul led the Indian team in the practice game on Friday.
The injury occurred during a fielding drill, after which Gill was attended to by the team’s medical staff. As a precautionary measure, he did not participate in the practice match. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to issue an official update on the severity of the injury.
KL Rahul takes charge in practice match
With Gill unavailable, KL Rahul captained the Indian side in the warm-up game as the team continued preparations for the opening Test. The practice match was aimed at helping players adapt to Sri Lankan conditions and finalise the playing combination.
The team management is expected to closely monitor Gill’s recovery before taking a decision on his participation in the first Test.
India await fitness update on Gill
Gill has been a key member of India’s Test batting line-up, and any prolonged absence would be a setback for the visitors ahead of the crucial series.
The medical team will assess the extent of the finger injury over the next few days. If required, further scans could be conducted to determine whether Gill is fit to take the field in the series opener.
The first Test between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin shortly, with India looking to make a strong start to the series. An official update on Gill’s fitness is expected from the team management before the match.