Ahead of the first Test of the two-match Test series against New Zealand at Green Park in Kanpur, India’s interim vice-captain Cheteshwar Pujara has indicated that the prodigious Indian opener, Shubman Gill will come back into the playing XI after missing out on England tour.
“Rahul bhai (Dravid) is there, he will give the best guidance. So I think he will just have to play his natural game. I can’t reveal the position he will bat at, but he is well prepared and I am sure he is looking forward to this series,” Pujara told the reporters in a virtual press conference.
However, India’s dependable batter has refused to confirm the batting position for Gill. It remains to be seen whether Gill opens with KL Rahul in absence of Rohit Sharma or bats in the middle-order. India will be also be without services of skipper Virat Kohli who will return to the fold for the second Test in Mumbai. On the other hand, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been rested for the Test series
“Can’t reveal that at this stage. But see, he (Gill) is a talented player and definitely he will be part of the team. So someone like him, you know he doesn’t need to worry too much, he has been playing good cricket for a couple of years since he has made his debut. It was unfortunate that he missed out on England, but he is a talented player, and I don’t think personally I will need to tell him much,” the right-handed batter added.
Injury had forced Gill to return home early from England tour as he struggled with shin issues. Now, in the absence of Rohit, the 22-year-old has come back in the Test squad and in high likeliness, any two from Mayank Agarwal and Gill will open the innings.
India Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
