AUS vs IND: After missing the series opener at Perth Stadium, Shubman Gill returned to the nets on Friday and expressed optimism about his recovery ahead of the Adelaide Test.
In Short:
- Shubman Gill missed the Perth Test due to a thumb injury.
- He averages 51.80 in 3 Tests on Australian soil.
- Gill returned to the nets on Friday after recovering from the injury.
Shubman Gill was thrilled to be back in the nets after recovering from a thumb injury sustained during India’s match simulation at the WACA. The right-handed batter missed the opening Test at Perth Stadium, which India won by 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Gill has over a week to regain full fitness ahead of the Day-Night Test at Adelaide Oval on December 6. During his session, he took throwdowns, with India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate assisting him with his defensive technique.
“It was my first day, and I was just trying to get a feel for it, honestly, to see how the injury would react and if there was any soreness. But it went much better than what Kamlesh bhai and I expected. I’m really happy with that,” Gill said in a video shared by the BCCI.
Gill made his Test debut during the 2020-21 tour of Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Although he played in the Brisbane Test, he missed the match at Optus Stadium. After once again being unable to play in Perth, Gill was disappointed, but he took comfort in India’s dominant victory.
“When I first learned about my injury, I was quite low and disappointed for the first few days. Perth was the only venue I didn’t play at during our last tour, and I was really looking forward to playing at such an iconic ground. But the way we performed in that match, I was very happy in the end,” Gill reflected.
If Gill is included in the playing XI for the Adelaide Test, it could mean a likely exclusion for Dhruv Jurel, who struggled in the Perth Test. So far, in three Tests on Australian soil, Gill has scored 259 runs at an average of 51.80, with a top score of 91 at the Gabba.
