NEW DELHI: In a major blow to the Indian cricket team, captain Shubman Gill is set to miss the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, starting Saturday. The Indian captain had travelled with the team as his recovery was on the right track, but the BCCI medical team feels he is still far from match fitness and will not be cleared to take the field in the series decider.It is understood that Gill was hoping to have a long hit in the nets in Guwahati to test his fitness but the management is not keen to take that risk and aggravate his situation. The thinktank is hoping he recovers in time for the ODIs against South Africa later this month. He could even be asked to return home from Guwahati for better recovery and the Indian cricket board is likely to take that call soon.
The Indian team management was happy to play the waiting game with Gill and were willing to wait until the last minute before making a final call. But for that to happen, the right-hander wanted to bat in the nets for at least an hour to see if there is no major discomfort. The moment that was no longer on the table, it was decided in the best interest of the player to give him a few more days to completely recover for the assignments which follow the Test series.Gill’s deputy, Rishabh Pant, is all set to lead India this week, and the team needs to take some tough Playing XI calls in the absence of their regular No. 4. Sai Sudharsan, who was ignored for the Kolkata Test because the management wanted to play an extra spinner in Axar Patel, and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was recalled to the Test squad earlier than scheduled, are in the Playing XI mix. There is a strong temptation to play both Sai and Nitish in the XI and it could well push Axar back on the bench. There could be a late alteration to this combination depending on the condition of the pitch on eve of the match but this is the kind of balance they are looking for.The pitch continues to have a green tinge but the excess grass will be shaved off the red soil surface at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, which will become India’s 28th Test venue. The Indian team expects it to offer turn and bounce. During the press conference, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak kept Playing XI cards close to his chest and dead-batted when asked about the temptation to have a right-hander in the mix.
Poll
Should Shubman Gill have been given a chance to test his fitness in the nets?
“You tell me one thing, they had a left-arm spinner also. If we had seven right-handed batsmen, then? They had a left-arm spinner also, and an off-spinner also. I believe that you have to play well. Off-spinner bowling to left-hander does not mean left-hander has to get out. We had two left-arm spinners [in the first Test], they had nine right-handers; did they get out? So maybe that thing is a little overrated,” said Kotak.India are 0-1 down in the series and would want to get their act right in the next game to avoid a second consecutive whitewash at home under coach Gautam Gambhir.
