Injury woes continue to grapple Team India ahead of all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023-2025, which is slated to kick off from November 22. After Shubman Gill's injury, another Indian player has sustained injury.
Khaleel Ahmed returns from Australia after sustaining injury
India's star bowler Khaleel Ahmed, who was kept in reserves, had to fly back to home from Australia due to unspecified niggle to further extend India's injury woes.
India's preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia has already been disrupted by injuries. With just a few days before the series opener in Perth, Shubman Gill's participation is in doubt due to a thumb injury. To address this setback, India has added Devdutt Padikkal to the main squad. This comes as an additional challenge for the team, as they are already without their regular captain, Rohit Sharma.
Gill, who sustained the injury during an intra-squad match, was barely able to participate in India's practice session on Wednesday. While bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed optimism about Gill's recovery, it seems unlikely that he will be fit for the Perth Test. It's more probable that Gill will return to action in the second Test in Delhi or the warm-up match against an Australian Prime Minister's XI.
Shubman Gill's unfortunate injury has opened up an opportunity for Devdutt Padikkal to make his return to the Indian Test squad. The talented left-hander from Karnataka, who was already in Australia with the India A team, is now set to potentially bat at number three in the first Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Padikkal made his Test debut earlier this year against England in Dharamsala, where he impressed with a half-century. However, he was not included in the Test squads for the subsequent series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Having gained valuable experience with India A in recent matches against Australia A, Padikkal showcased his skills by scoring 88 runs in the second innings of one of the games. His composed approach at the nets, even on the challenging Australian pitches, further highlights his readiness for the upcoming Test.
Yash Dayal replaces Khaleel Ahmed
India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has undergone another change. Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, who recently represented India in the T20I series against South Africa, has been flown to Australia as a replacement for Khaeel Ahmed. Khaeel, the only left-arm pacer in the original reserve group, was forced to return home due to an injury. With Dayal's arrival, India now has three reserve pacers in their squad: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Yash Dayal.
Khaleel Ahmed, the left-arm pacer, had to return home due to a niggle that prevented him from bowling in the nets. As a result, Yash Dayal was flown in from South Africa to replace him in the Indian squad.
The medical team advised Khaleel to rest, and it was decided that Dayal would join the team in Perth while Khaleel would return home. This decision might impact Khaleel's participation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as he has been released by Delhi Capitals and aims to attract bids from other franchises in the upcoming IPL auction.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal suffered a shoulder injury during a practice session, requiring medical attention.
Notably, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence with the first Test in Perth on November 22nd. The second Test, a day-night affair, will be held at the Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The series will then move to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test, scheduled from December 14 to 18. The traditional Boxing Day Test will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The final Test of the series will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3rd to 7th, promising a thrilling conclusion to the highly anticipated series.
