Cuttack: Indian T20 Vice-Captain Shubman Gill is set to make his return to international cricket as India takes on South Africa in the first match of the five-game T20 series at Barabati Stadium today, Tuesday, 9 December.
Gill, who sustained a neck injury during the Kolkata Test against South Africa, missed the subsequent Guwahati Test and the three-match ODI series. After a period of rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, he cleared fitness tests and regained full match readiness.
Fitness and Readiness Confirmed
The BCCI CoE sports science team declared Gill fully fit, paving the way for his inclusion in the T20 squad. Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has also confirmed that Gill is completely ready and eager to play, putting an end to speculation about whether he would feature in the opening match.
Gill arrived in Bhubaneswar on Sunday night and participated in team practice on Monday, joining the other squad members. During net sessions, he looked fully confident, playing drives and aerial shots without any discomfort, signaling his readiness to take the field.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav Confirms Gill’s Return
India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified in a press conference that Gill will open the innings in the first T20. This decision could see Sanju Samson make way for Gill, as the team management prioritizes Gill’s return and combination balance. Gill had previously opened ahead of Samson during the Sri Lanka series, reinforcing his claim to the spot.
With Gill back in full form, India’s batting line-up looks bolstered as they aim to start the T20 series on a strong note.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.