NEWS
Follow UsTeam India met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on November 29, before playing a pink ball practice game against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. However, with the two-day practice game, which begins on November 30, under serious rain threat, the Indian batters had a long net session in the Australian national capital.
According to various media reports, Shubman Gill, who had to sit out the first Test at Perth after fracturing his thumb during training, is now looking fit enough to play the Adelaide pink ball Test, beginning December 6.
He batted in the nets without any trouble and was comfortable facing throwdowns. His thumb didn’t trouble him as he struck some clean trademark shots and worked on his defence.
Devdutt Padikkal, who played at number three in Gill’s absence, failed to impress in his first outing in a Test in Australia and scored 0 and 25 in his two innings. While he batted 71 balls in the second innings, the southpaw was getting caught on the crease often, and the Australian pacers troubled him. Hence, Gill’s return (condition to fitness, which right now feels good) is almost assured.
The reports also mentioned that the Indian batters spent extra time in the net, including skipper Rohit Sharma, who arrived in between the Perth Test after a short paternity leave. With Sharma and Gill coming in the side for Adelaide, both Padikkal and Jurel are almost sure to be dropped from the playing XI.
However, the main question revolves around India’s batting order and the position of KL Rahul, who impressed everyone with his stoic performance in the Perth Test as an opener.
It might get clear from the practice game beginning tomorrow and India’s upcoming practice sessions prior to the pink ball Test.
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