Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah (knee injury) and top-order batter Sai Sudharsan (toe niggle) were initially included in the squad to tour Sri Lanka before ruling them out. “Yes, we are in touch with them.
India skipper Shubman Gill said the team management is keeping track of players who have been recuperating from injuries at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, but, at times, risk-avoiding calls needed to be taken in the best interests of the team and the cricketer himself. There is constant monitoring on players and where they are (in terms of fitness),” Gill said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the first Test here.
India skipper Shubman Gill said the team management is keeping track of players who have been recuperating from injuries at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
“So, sometimes you have to take a call from the player’s point of view as to whether you want to take that risk. If it’s one-day or T20, then it’s a different story. But in the Test match, you don’t want to take a risk. I feel that in the Test match, you have more opportunities with other players (to come back). “I think that’s where someone like Manav coming in. He’s got the ability with the bat. Of course, you need a bit of experience, you need some belief and confidence and that will only come once you’re out there playing, when you score some runs. “And hopefully he does that in the series. He’s someone with a great skill with bowling.
“The Test match is for 5 days. “But it didn’t affect the morale of the team that much that they didn’t get the first 11. I feel that whoever is in our 15 or whoever we give a chance in our playing 11 in any condition, they can play well and win the game,” he explained. And he’s got the potential to be able to be a really good number 8 batsman as well,” said Gill.
The decision, Gill said, was arrived at considering the duration of the Test match.
