The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has always been a tough terrain to roam, but this time India is in trouble before the start of the play. With just three days left at the start of the first test of BGT 2024-25 in Perth, team India is facing an injury crisis. KL Rahul and Shubham Gill, both expected to be part of the playing XI in Perth, got injured.
Among these two, Gill’s injury is more severe, which could force him to sit on the bench in the first test match. Meanwhile, Rahul’s participation in suspense as the BCCI is yet to make an official announcement on Rahul’s injury.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Gill fractured his left hand’s thumb while attempting a low catch in the slips on the second day of India’s simulated training game. Although BCCI has not made an official announcement on Gill’s injury yet, but it is expected that due to precautionary action, the Indian team’s management could choose to bench Shubman Gill in Perth so that he is fully fit for the second test in Adelaide.
On the other side, Rahul also had a bad simulated training game in WACA, where he opened the innings but left the ground soon after getting struck on the elbow by Prasidh Krishna. After the incident, Rahul didn’t come to bat again but he appeared in the nets on Sunday.
So the chances of Rahul’s being part of India’s playing XI in the first Test match are 50/50. But India has to explore options to replace both top-order batters, and is a difficult task in this situation where the captain and senior batter of the team, Rohit Sharma, is absent.
According to local news resources, Yashaswi Jaiswal could find a new opening partner in Abhimanyu Eashwaran. KL Rahul could be promoted to No. 3 position if he gets fit before the Perth Test. Dhruv Jurel could walk into Rahul’s usual place in the batting order, but if Rahul misses out, Devdutt Padikkal make his debut in test cricket at No. 3.
