Picture Credit: Twitter
After the end of WTC final, Team India are currently on a 20-day break to take some time away from the game before they regroup for the much awaited five-match Test series against England. However, there seems to be no rest for the team management after receiving injury updates.
Shubman Gill to miss major part of the Test series owing to injury
Recent reports have stated that Indian opener Shubman Gill is likely to miss a huge part of the upcoming Test series against England commencing on August 4. Gill, who had cemented his place at the top of the order after brilliant performance Down Under, is likely to be sidelined for a couple of months due to an internal injury. The important question now for the team management to answer is ‘Who will replace Gill?’.
Who will replace Shubman Gill?
While Mayank Agarwal looks the most suitable option the team will go with, Hanuma Vihari and KL Rahul are also in contention for the opening spot alongside Rohit Sharma. Rahul, who played a Test match back in September 2019, may take middle-order slot after his struggles against the new ball.
Another player we could see at the top of the order is Hanuma Vihari. A stalwart of domestic cricket in India, Vihari knows how to hang in tough situations. The 27-year-old has previously opened for India on the tour of Australia in 2018. Although he struggled to get a good score for himself, he stood tall battling against pace and bounce. This just might be the thing the Indian contingent must be looking for from their openers. Vihari could also come in handy in the middle order having batted there for years in domestic cricket and scoring tons of runs. And if the management decides to go in with four frontline pacers keeping in mind the conditions in England, Vihari with his off-spin could help India play an extra batsman.
Watch the video here: