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India National Cricket Team captain Shubman Gill has suffered a major injury scare just two days before the three-match ODI series opener against the West Indies National Cricket Team on September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Gill was hit on his right elbow by a rising delivery from the fiery speedster Mohammed Siraj during a practice session at the Greenfield International Stadium on Friday (September 25). The incident has raised concerns about Gill’s availability for the first ODI on Sunday. Amid this, Morne Morkel reveals Nitish Kumar Reddy’s role as India seek Hardik Pandya backup.
Mohammed Siraj's delivery leaves Shubman Gill in pain
The incident took place when Shubman Gill was batting in the nets and faced a length delivery from Mohammed Siraj. The ball suddenly bounced sharply and hit the Indian skipper directly on his right elbow. He immediately dropped his bat and walked away in serious pain.
Team physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain rushed to attend to him, and Gill needed nearly 20 minutes of medical attention. The support staff also strapped his injured arm as he sat on the sidelines.
Siraj looked concerned and quickly checked on Gill after the incident. Virat Kohli, who was batting in the nearby nets, also rushed to check on the Indian skipper. Earlier, Hardik Pandya injury update: From Asian Games selection talks to NZ setback.
Will Shubman Gill play the first ODI against West Indies?
Gill remained away from batting for the rest of the session as he continued his recovery on Friday. However, the right-hander was later seen sharing a light moment with young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar. Currently, the team management is keeping a close watch on Gill's condition.
However, fresh reports suggest that there is nothing serious with Gill, and he is highly likely to play in the first ODI against the West Indies unless the medical team and team management decide against playing him, only as a precaution. Otherwise, he should be fit to play on Sunday.
Notably, this is not the first time Gill has suffered an injury scare during practice. Last month, he was hit on his ring finger during a training session in Sri Lanka. However, the captain recovered in time and played the entire series, which India won 1-0.
Shubman Gill suffers only a soft bruise, but doctors likely to take extra precautions
As reported by a Revsportz journalist, Rohit Juglan, Shubman Gill has suffered only a soft bruise, which generally heals within 24 to 48 hours. According to the initial medical information, there is no fracture, hairline fracture, or serious ligament tear.
With proper icing, medication, and rest, the Indian skipper is expected to recover in time for the first ODI against the West Indies. Another positive sign is that Gill has packed his bags himself, which shows that his condition may not be as serious as initially feared.
However, the final decision will depend on how comfortable Gill feels, how quickly the pain reduces, and the medical team's assessment. Given the recent injury concerns, the team doctors are likely to take extra precautions before clearing the captain to play.
The doctors and support staff will closely monitor Gill's elbow and make sure there is no further discomfort, so the final decision will depend on the medical team's assessment.
