Shubman Gill had a chat with India coach Gautam Gambhir as the team around them warmed up for the fifth and final Test on the tour of Australia. There was a brief conversation where the coach patted him on the back. It was followed by India seamer Jasprit Bumrah walking up to him and there were signs of Gill getting the good news.
Having missed the fourth Test at MCG to accomodate Washington Sundar in the lineup, Gill looked destined to be in the conversation for a return to the playing XI in Sydney.
The session for the Indian team involved lengthy conversations all around. Gambhir had one with Bumrah which was followed by a chat with chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Not long after, India skipper Rohit Sharma spoke to spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar.
Gill got his due to face the leather after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in the nets. He went about his business confidently in the session with father watching on from the adjacent steps.
While not confirmed by Gambhir in the pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, there were strong indications of the 25-year-old returning for the lineup.
Ahead of the fifth Test, Gambhir said there had been no decision on the playing XI with Akash Deep the only confirmed absence due to a stiff back.
“Akash Deep is out because he got a back issue. That’s the only injury concern,” Gambhir said, quashing speculations of any further fitness issues within the squad.
Regarding the team’s playing XI for the series decider, Gambhir maintained that the decision would be taken on match day after assessing the pitch conditions. “We will look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow,” he stated.
“Everything is fine with Rohit. I don’t think there is anything traditional about it. The head coach is here, that should be fine. That should be good enough. And we have to look at the wicket to finalise the playing XI tomorrow,” he said bluntly.
