Shubman Gill Returns to Nets Ahead of Adelaide Pink-Ball Test

In a significant boost for Team India, young batting sensation Shubman Gill was seen practicing in the nets in Canberra, signaling his readiness for the upcoming pink-ball Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Gill, who missed the first Test due to a thumb injury, looked solid in defense during his practice session, raising hopes for his inclusion in the second Test.

Team India is currently in Canberra to play a two-day warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval. The game serves as an opportunity for players to adapt to the pink ball’s unique challenges before the crucial day-night Test in Adelaide, starting December 6.

India heads into the second Test with a 1-0 series lead, following their commanding 295-run victory in Perth. However, memories of their infamous 36 all-out in the 2021 Adelaide pink-ball Test linger, keeping the team cautious as they prepare for a potential Australian resurgence.

Skipper Rohit Sharma, who joined the team after the birth of his second child, is also practicing in the nets and will participate in the warm-up game. Meanwhile, head coach Gautam Gambhir has temporarily returned to India for personal reasons but is expected to rejoin the squad ahead of the Adelaide Test.

Gill has been in stellar form this season, amassing 806 runs in 10 matches at an average of over 47, including three centuries and three fifties. The 25-year-old is set to bat at number three during the series, a role in which he has accumulated 926 runs in 14 matches at an average of 42.09. Fans eagerly anticipate his return to the playing XI, recalling his heroics during the 2020-21 Gabba Test, where he scored a crucial 91 to lead India to a historic victory over Australia.