Colombo, 09 August (H.S.):

India Test captain Shubman Gill returned to the nets on Sunday after sitting out the lone practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI due to a finger injury.

Gill was seen batting in the side nets on the third and final day of the practice match at the NCC Ground in Colombo, providing a positive update ahead of India’s upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Gill had been ruled out of the practice game after sustaining an injury to the ring finger of his right hand while batting during a training session ahead of the match. A delivery struck his finger during practice, prompting the team management to take a precautionary approach.

At the toss, KL Rahul was handed the responsibility of captaining the Indian side. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently confirmed that Gill would not take the field on the opening day of the practice match.

In a statement, the BCCI had said, “Captain Shubman Gill sustained an injury to the ring finger of his right hand during India’s practice session on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI.”

Gill, however, did not come out to bat even on the second day when India began their innings. Ravindra Jadeja instead came in at Gill’s regular No. 4 position in the batting order.

Gill’s return to the nets is a reassuring development for India as the team prepares for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle. The second Test will subsequently be played at the SSC Stadium in Colombo.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar