India have begun their preparations for the rescheduled fifth Test against England. The match, which is part of a five-match Test series that began in 2021, will take place at Old Trafford from July 1 to 5, and will be followed by India’s limited overs tour, which will include three T20Is and as many ODIs. Meanwhile, the BCCI has hinted that Shubman Gill will replace KL Rahul in the Indian team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released photos of India’s Test players training at Leicestershire Cricket Club on Monday, claiming that the club will be the team’s base for the week.
Shubman Gill will open with Rohit Sharma?
Rohit Sharma and his team will be without star opener and vice-captain KL Rahul due to a groin injury ahead of the crucial one-off Test match against England. Due to the same reason, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper had to miss the team’s recent five-match home T20I series against South Africa, where he was named captain.
The visitors have not named a replacement for Rahul’s absence, so someone from the existing squad will have to step up in his place. Mayank Agarwal, who has opened the batting in each of India’s last seven Test matches, has been left out of the visiting squad for the trip to England.
With talk circulating about who will replace Rahul in the playing XI, with the returning Cheteshwar Pujara being mentioned as a leading contender, an Instagram post from the Indian cricket team’s official account has hinted that Shubman Gill will be Rohit’s opening partner for the big Test.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a video of Rohit and Gill working out in the nets at Leicestershire, where they will play a four-day warm-up match starting June 24.
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The match at Edgbaston is the fifth and final game of the previous year’s series, which was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Indian team. India leads the series 2-1, and a win or a draw would seal a historic series victory for India, which would be their first on English soil since 2007.
