India's batting lineup could see Shubman Gill given every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the opening Test against Australia at Perth Stadium, according to bowling coach Morne Morkel. Gill, who fractured his left thumb while fielding last week, has shown signs of improvement and could still feature in the match starting on Friday.
Morkel acknowledged that Gill's recovery is a day-by-day process and a final decision on his participation will be made on the morning of the Test match. With captain Rohit Sharma absent due to the birth of his second child, Gill's potential absence could put additional pressure on India's less experienced batsmen, but Morkel expressed confidence in their ability to perform against a strong Australian bowling attack.
Meanwhile, seamer Mohammed Shami, who recently returned from injuries, is not part of the squad for the five-match series. Morkel emphasized the need to carefully manage Shami's return to national duty, given his extended absence from the game.
India enters the series on the back of a disappointing home series loss to New Zealand, raising questions about the form of key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. However, coach Gautam Gambhir and former coach Ravi Shastri have both defended the senior players, highlighting their hunger to prove their worth.
The series is not only crucial for India's pride but also for the World Test Championship, with the hosts needing to win five of their remaining seven Tests to secure a place in the final at Lord's. India, with a proud record in Australia, will be looking to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and continue their dominance in the rivalry.
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