Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
In a major blow to Team India and the Kolkata Knight Riders, batsman Shubman Gill has been confirmed to be ruled out for at least three months with an injury. While the youngster was the team's first choice opener along with Rohit Sharma in the longest format of the game, he is now set to miss the five-match series against England as well as the remainder of IPL 2021.
This could be a huge blow to the two-time champions since Shubman was central to their plans and his absence could hurt them big time especially because even their captain Eoin Morgan is likely to miss the remaining matches.
A source close to BCCI confirmed PTI that Gill would be on sidelines for at least next three months with a stress fracture on the left shin. Notably, a stress fracture usually takes three-six months to recover but with the UAE leg of IPL some two and a half months away, he is unlikely to be match fit by that time.
"Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the entire Test series in the UK with shin splints that will take a minimum of three months to heal. The team’s administrative manager, at the end of last month, had sent an emailed requisition to former pacer Sharma asking for two more openers to be sent to the UK,” PTI quoted a senior BCCI source close to the developments.
In Gill's absence, Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi are likely to open for the franchise.