Shubman Gill injury rocks India ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

COLOMBO: India’s preparations for their upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka have suffered a fresh setback after captain Shubman Gill was forced to miss the opening day of a three-day warm-up match due to a finger injury.

Gill sustained an injury to his right-hand finger during a practice session on Thursday, prompting the Indian team management to take a cautious approach. The Test captain was rested for the first day of the warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka XI as the medical team continues to monitor his condition.

The development immediately raised concerns over Gill’s availability for the Test series, although there is currently no indication that he will miss the opening match.

In Gill’s absence, vice-captain KL Rahul took charge of the Indian side. Rahul’s experience will be particularly valuable as India look to make the most of their final preparation ahead of the two-Test series. Recent reports also confirmed that Rahul led India at the toss after Gill was ruled out of the opening day.

The Indian camp is already dealing with a lengthy injury list. Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Test series with a knee problem, while Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are also unavailable because of different injuries.

Gill’s fitness will therefore be closely watched over the next two days. According to the team’s medical update, a decision on whether he will return to the warm-up match will be made after further assessment.

India are scheduled to begin their two-Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15 in Galle, with the second Test set to be played in Colombo from August 23.

For India, the priority is clear: avoid taking unnecessary risks with their captain now and ensure Gill is fully fit when the real contest begins.

The latest setback adds another layer of uncertainty to an already injury-hit Indian squad, making Gill’s recovery one of the biggest talking points ahead of the series.