Shubman Gill will not be participating in the field for India during the concluding innings of the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam.
Shubman Gill will not be available for India on Day 4 of the 2nd Test against England due to a minor injury he sustained while fielding on Day 2. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has notified about his finger injury, which means he will not participate in the final day of the Visakhapatnam Test.
The BCCI has announced through a post on X that Shubman Gill sustained an injury to his right index finger during fielding on Day 2. As a result, he will not be participating in today’s match.
Although the exact nature of the injury remains uncertain, it is unlikely to be severe considering Gill’s smooth performance while batting on Day 3, where he even managed to achieve his 3rd Test century. Interestingly, neither Gill nor his body language indicated any signs of injury. He appeared comfortable and composed while scoring an impressive 104, which significantly contributed to India’s lead of nearly 400 runs. Subsequently, Sarfaraz Khan, who recently received his first call-up to the Indian team, replaced Gill on the field.
If Gill’s injury worsens, it could have severe consequences for India, especially considering the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul due to their own injuries. Jadeja is confirmed to be out of the series, while Rahul is expected to return for the Rajkot Test on February 15. However, India cannot afford to have another player sidelined. Gill’s recent form has been impressive, and India will rely on him until Virat Kohli’s return, which remains uncertain.
Furthermore, Gill’s absence will be sorely felt in the slip cordon, where he has been the team’s top fielder. He has taken 15 catches in 21 Tests, and his absence was already noticeable in the first half an hour of the day’s play. Rehan Ahmed was on 19 when he edged the ball to first slip, where Rohit Sharma dropped a difficult chance. To make matters worse, the ball raced to the boundary. Fortunately, India did not suffer any major consequences yet, as Axar Patel dismissed the nightwatchman LBW two balls later.