ENG vs IND: Selectors deny backup options for injured Shubman Gill

With the 1^st Test of the five-match series versus England less than a month away, Team India were stuck in a conundrum after Shubman Gill sustained an injury to his leg. The opening batsman is expected to be on the sidelines for at least three months. There are reports that the Indian team management sent an email regarding a replacement on June 28.

Indian Team Management’s plea to replace Gill

The likes of Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal were options that were being considered, but with the duo already in Sri Lanka for the white ball series starting July 13, it seems highly unlikely that they will be added to the squad in England. The Sri Lanka series ends on July 26, and it would be difficult to have them join the squad before heading to the bio bubble in Durham.

“They have left it to the selectors to name a replacement, be it Prithvi Shaw or Devdutt Padikkal or whoever,” one of the sources recently said.

“The Sri Lanka series will end on July 26, both can be flown in. But I think, team management wants them to join before entering the bio-bubble in Durham,”

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That being said, the selectors have turned down the plea of having Gill’s replacement. With KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and newbie Abhimany Easwaran already in the mix, Virat Kohli might just have to chose among one of them to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma

ENG vs IND: Team India Squad 

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha

Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla

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