India faced mixed fortunes ahead of the first Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Star openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are likely to miss the match, while KL Rahul has been declared fit to play following an elbow injury scare.
Gill reportedly sustained a left-hand injury while fielding in the slips during an intra-squad match and did not return for the second day’s play. Although the BCCI has not officially confirmed his availability, reports suggest that the young batter will miss the Perth Test. Gill, who scored 28 and an unbeaten 42* during the simulation match, has been in excellent form this year, amassing 806 runs at an average of 47.41, including three centuries. Known for his ability to emulate Cheteshwar Pujara’s defensive resilience, his absence could significantly impact India’s plans.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, is also set to miss the series opener due to personal commitments, as he stayed back for the birth of his second child. However, he is expected to join the squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide. In Rohit’s absence, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is poised to lead the team in Perth. Rohit has struggled with form recently, scoring just 133 runs in 10 innings across five Tests, and will look to regain his rhythm in the subsequent matches.
In a positive development, KL Rahul, who suffered a blow to his right elbow during a practice session at Perth’s WACA ground, has been declared fit by the team’s medical staff. The injury occurred when a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna struck Rahul, forcing him to leave the field. However, after a three-hour training session on Sunday, the BCCI’s physio team confirmed that there were no fractures or bony lesions, and Rahul is ready to play.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22 with the first Test in Perth. The five-match series will include a pink-ball Test in Adelaide from December 6 to 10, followed by games in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.
