Blow for India as Shubman Gill fractures left thumb, all but out of Perth Test

Shubman Gill's thumb fracture likely to rule him out of opening Test, impacting India's top-order for Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India were dealt a telling blow on Saturday (November 16, 2024) after star top-order batter Shubman Gill sustained a left thumb fracture, which is likely to rule him out of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting November 22.

Gill, one of the young heroes of India's last Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph, is a batting mainstay and in case skipper Rohit Sharma opts out of the first Test, India's top-order could look very thin.

Gill got hurt while fielding on the second day of the intra-squad match simulation. He was seen in considerable pain and immediately left the field for further scans.

According to a BCCI source privy to the development, Gill has indeed fractured his left thumb and with less than a week left for the Test to start, it will be near impossible for the stylish right-hander to get fit in time for the opening match.

A thumb fracture generally takes around 14 days to heal, after which one is expected to start his regular net sessions. Since the second Test in Adelaide starts on December 6, there remains a possibility that he will get fit in time for that match.

Gill's absence could be massive for the national team as he is not only a stable number three batter, but in the case of Rohit's absence, he could be considered for opening the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The other man in contention, Lokesh Rahul, has a bruised elbow after getting hit by a Prasidh Krishna short ball on the opening day of the intra-squad match and was forced to leave the field.