Colombo, August 10: India’s spin bowling coach Sai Raj Bhatule has clarified that captain Shubman Gill’s absence during the first two days of the warm-up match against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI was merely a precaution. He stated that the right-handed batsman is fully fit and ready for the first Test starting on August 15 in Galle.
Gill missed the initial days of the warm-up match due to an injury to his right ring finger sustained during Thursday’s practice session. However, he returned to open the innings in the second innings, showcasing excellent form with a score of 44 runs.
In a press conference after the match, Bhatule said, “It was just a precaution. He is absolutely fine. He was training, and the management decided to hold him back on the first day as a precaution. I think everything went well, and the way he batted in the second innings was fantastic; he is fully prepared for the Test match.”
Emphasizing Gill’s meticulous preparation for the Test series in Sri Lanka, Bhatule noted that Gill leaves no stone unturned while preparing against the opposing team’s bowling lineup. He remarked, “I believe Shubman takes his preparation very seriously and is a player who works with great detail. He understands what the bowling attack needs for that particular series, which has been successful for the Sri Lankan team, and prepares accordingly. Therefore, the net bowlers we brought along provided Shubman with a good opportunity to bowl, and we were working on conditions that Shubman was responding well to. I think this helps him in his preparation, and that was our aim.”
Discussing the batting contributions from fast bowlers Gurnoor Barar and Mohammed Siraj, Bhatule mentioned that including them in the batting lineup is part of the strategy for the Test series. He stated, “As you saw, the lower-order bowlers – Gurnoor and Siraj – batted well. So, there is a process. All the lower-order bowlers, who typically bat in the lower order, play a crucial role in contributing to the team’s score in the Test match, and that is the whole process. We are encouraging them to bat as much as possible in the nets so they can see how they can contribute to the team’s score.”
Left-handed top-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal also made an impression in this match, scoring an unbeaten 142 runs in the first innings, strengthening his claim for a spot in the playing eleven, especially as Sai Sudharsan is ruled out of the series due to a stress reaction in his right toe.
Bhatule concluded, “I think whoever gets the chance – Devdutt got this opportunity. He played openly and batted very well, and he is ready to play. Whatever decision we make, we will assess the pitch when we reach Galle, and any decisions will be made then, but he has scored a lot of runs. His confidence is high. Now, whether we select him or not, or if he makes it into the eleven, we will determine that once we reach Galle.”
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