Shubman Gill Starts Preparation For 2nd Test Against NZ After Missing Series Opener - WATCH

Star Indian batter Shubman Gill, who missed the series opener against New Zealand due to fitness-related issues, was seen batting in the nets on Sunday (October 20) after the conclusion of the first India-New Zealand Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In Gill’s absence, Sarfaraz Khan was included in India’s playing XI for the first Test of the three-match series, and the Mumbai batter justified his selection by scoring 150 runs in the second innings.

After his super show with the bat on Friday and Saturday, Sarfaraz has almost confirmed his place in the playing XI for the remaining matches of the series, and KL Rahul’s spot is in danger now.

The Karnataka-based cricketer scored 0 and 12 runs in the first Test, which India lost by eight wickets. After Rahul’s flop show with the bat, many fans on social media platforms called out for his exit from the Test team and bats for Gill selection in place of him and not Sarfaraz for the second Test.

In several videos going viral on the internet, Gill can be seen doing batting practice at the nets.

Here’s a look:

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, while speaking to reporters during the post-match press conference, also shared a positive update about Gill and said that the 25-year-old right-handed batter seems okay at this point of time.

Gill, who replaced Cheteshwar Pujara as India’s No. 3 batter in Tests, has scored three centuries in eight Tests played so far in 2024. His return to the side will add strength to India’s batting unit, which had no answer to New Zealand’s pace attack in the first inning.

The Kiwis bowled out the Indian team for just 46 runs in the first innings of the first Test, and the lowest score by the Indian team in Tests played at home proved to be the difference in the end.

Despite posting a total of 462 runs in the second inning, India was only able to post a target of 107 runs for the Kiwis, which they chased down without much fuss.

The second Test of the three-match series is scheduled to take place at MCA Stadium in Pune and will start on Thursday (October 24). India can’t afford to lose the second match in a row, as it will not only hamper India’s hopes of qualifying for the WTC final but also help New Zealand win a Test series on Indian soil for the first time in history.