Superstar Indian batter Shubman Gill is not going to take charge of the No. 3 position in India’s batting lineup for the first Test against New Zealand, as confirmed by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss. Gill, who made his fifth test century just a few weeks ago in Chennai against Bangladesh, will be absent for this crucial game. What could be the possible reason for Gill’s absence, especially in a match that is connected to the WTC final, where each Test match holds its own value?
Why is Shubman Gill not playing in IND vs NZ Test match?
As mentioned, Sharma confirmed at the toss that the reason for Gill’s absence is related to his fitness. According to the Indian skipper, Gill was not 100 percent fit, which is why the team decided to move on without him for this game. The top-order batter reportedly complained about a stiff neck before the series started, and considering the hectic schedule and Gill’s importance to the team, management decided to give him the rest. Sarfaraz Khan has replaced him for this Test match.
Also, we will see another change, as Aakash Deep, who troubled Bangladesh’s batting lineup just a few weeks ago, has been replaced by Kuldeep Yadav for the Bengaluru Test match.
India playing XI vs New Zealand for 1st Test Match
India Playing 11: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand playing XI vs India 1st Test Match
New Zealand Playing 11: Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke
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