NEWS
Follow UsOn November 22 (Friday), India won the toss and opted to bat first in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth, but a key name was missing from the side’s starting lineup: Shubman Gill.
The news did not come as a surprise since it had been widely reported that Gill was a major doubt for the first Test after sustaining an injury during the team’s match simulation session at the WACA, but still there had been no official word from the BCCI regarding the 25-year-old’s availability.
The board confirmed after toss on the first day that Gill was not considered for selection due to a left thumb injury.
“Shubman Gill sustained a left thumb injury during Day 2 of match simulation at The WACA. He was not considered for selection for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” the BCCI release said.
“The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress on a daily basis.”
In Gill’s absence, India opted to go with Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal at No.3. Padikkal played in the unofficial Test series between India A and Australia A and impressed big time, finishing as India A’s highest run-getter with 151 runs at an average of 37.75.
This, though, is not Padikkal’s debut. He got his maiden Test cap against England in Dharamshala earlier this year, where he scored 65 in the lone innings he batted.
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