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India captain Shubman Gill reflected on the first-ever home bilateral ODI series defeat to New Zealand, highlighting missed batting conversions, fielding lapses, and emerging talent Harshit Rana as a bright spot.

India Faces First Home ODI Series Defeat Against New Zealand

India's Historic Loss to New Zealand in ODI Series

India captain Shubman Gill reflected on the first-ever home bilateral ODI series defeat to New Zealand, highlighting missed batting conversions, fielding lapses, and emerging talent Harshit Rana as a bright spot.

India's first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand was not just a statistical jolt but a moment of uncomfortable clarity, and skipper Shubman Gill did not hide behind the margin of defeat or missing personnel.
Speaking after the loss in the series-deciding game in Indore on Sunday, the India captain instead laid bare a pattern that, in his words, "made the difference between the two teams".
"For me, it wasn't that we didn't bat well. It was that we didn't bat long enough. When batsmen are getting starts and they're not able to convert those starts, especially in high-scoring matches, it becomes very difficult. At least two batters need to go on and play that long innings," said Gill after the 41-run defeat at Holkar Stadium. "That was the difference between them and us."
The inability to turn promising starts into match-defining scores haunted India throughout the series, including in Indore where Virat Kohli's century briefly threatened to swing the momentum back.
Gill repeatedly returned to the contrast with New Zealand's approach. "Whenever their batsmen got set, they scored long. That's the difference. Even in the first two matches, I got set, but I wasn't able to convert it into 100, 120 or 130, and that's something we need to get better at as a batting unit."
The conversation then inevitably turned to Ravindra Jadeja, whose returns with both bat and ball have dipped over the last two to three years. Gill was quick to contextualise the all-rounder's struggles rather than isolate them.
"Jaddu bhai was looking in good touch with the bat. But it wasn't just him. I don't think any of our batsmen were able to consistently convert the starts we were getting. On pitches like these, if you don't make those starts count, you&rsquo;re always chasing the game."
Gill also acknowledged that Jadeja's wicket-taking impact &mdash; once a cornerstone of India's ODI dominance &mdash; hasn't been the same recently.
"The way he has been bowling in the past couple of years, he has always been a strike option for us. It's unfortunate he couldn't pick as many wickets as he would have liked, but that happens in series like these. You learn from it and you grow."
India's fielding lapses emerged as another decisive factor, especially as overseas teams continue to narrow the gap in Indian conditions. Gill admitted that missed chances shifted momentum at critical moments.
"We dropped some catches at very important stages of the game. On wickets like these, bowlers are trying to force chances, and when those catches don't stick, it's not easy. No one drops a catch intentionally, but it's one area we really have to improve."
While Rohit Sharma's modest returns across the series &mdash; 61 runs &mdash; drew scrutiny, Gill backed his senior opener's intent and approach.
"He has been in very good form. You won't always be able to convert the starts you get. As a batsman, you always want to make it into hundreds, but that doesn't happen every time. That's impossible. What's important is that the intent and rhythm are there."
 Harshit Rana is a great prospect for future
Amid the disappointment, Gill highlighted a positive that could shape India's future ODI balance &mdash; the rise of Harshit Rana as a lower-order batting option.
"Batting at number eight is a very important position for us. All the top teams in the world bat really deep. We want to give opportunities to players who can strengthen that depth, and Harshit is someone who is constantly improving his batting."
Gill went further, underlining why Rana excites the team management.
"You don't get too many bowlers who can consistently bowl at 140-plus with the height that he has," he said. "And the way he is batting right now, he keeps getting better. In the future, he can be a very good prospect for us."
With the World Cup still some distance away, Gill believes the defeat offers clarity rather than crisis.
"The way we want to play, we haven't been able to do it consistently in this series," he admitted. "But we have time. As long as all the players are aware of what we need to work on, hopefully in the next one or two series we can fix those areas and perform the way we want to."

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Stars and Emerging Talents Set to Shine

Vijay Hazare: Star Cricketers & Future Prospects

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

The charismatic presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma alongside a host of top India cricketers lends unprecedented gravitas to the Vijay Hazare One-Day Trophy beginning on Wednesday, giving all of them a chance to prove a point amid a renewed focus on domestic grind.
The velvety tapestry of superstars also features Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma among others but none attracts as much attention as Kohli and Rohit.
Their appearance has a direct link to the BCCI's decision of making at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches mandatory for India cricketers. But in case of Kohli, who is playing in this tournament after 15 years, and Rohit, it is a sharp reminder that they are no longer immune to the evolving power equations within Indian cricket.
The celebrated pair remain the biggest current stars of the game but that status can't mask the reality that both cricket and time have entered the freeway. They are now the Beatles looking for chart space in the age of Beach Bunny. But watching that gradual unfolding of struggle itself is fascinating.&nbsp;
Can Ro-Ko fire?
Rohit has made it clear that he will play the first two matches of Mumbai against Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 24 and 26.
Kohli, who has been training with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar in Mumbai, has not yet decided as to which two or three matches he will play for Delhi.
Delhi will open their Elite Group D campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru, either at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium or at the BCCI Centre of Excellence depending on the decision of the Karnataka state home ministry, following which they will face Gujarat.
Since his arrival in Bengaluru on Tuesday night, assumptions are being made that the star batter will play those two matches. Both Kohli and Rohit still have the power to choose their games, but what they don't seem to have is the power to choose their destiny.
An underwhelming outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will not have a say in their selection for the ODIs against New Zealand next month, but more than anyone else, Kohli and Rohit would also know that the space around them is shrinking. They know that younger names are breathing down their necks.
How long can they resist the weight of domestic runs scored by a rising star? There are plenty of them too in the likes of Yash Dhull or R Smaran.
The recent omission of Gill from India's T20 World Cup squad and the inclusion of Ishan Kishan on the back of a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a grim pointer to what might happen with Kohli and Rohit if runs don't flow easily from their bats. If the selectors can drop Gill, the current high-value property in Indian cricket, because of combination compulsions, then not many will be spared.
So, for Kohli and Rohit, this is a battle with themselves to find the inner fire in the modest surroundings of a domestic event, as much as it is against a tight circling younger generation of players.
Gill, Pant eye fruitful outing
Besides the Ro-Ko show, there are several interesting sub-plots to explore. Pant, a Test certainty, will be eager to bring himself back in contention for white ball formats selection. The wicketkeeper batter has not represented the country in either ODIs or T20Is since August 2024.
Gill, on the other hand, will be picking himself up after the selectors' call to overlook him for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The right-hander will be aiming to vent some of that frustration while turning out for Punjab.
For Gill, it will be a good warm-up ahead of next month's three-match ODI series against New Zealand in which he will lead India.
Will young bowling talents emerge?
Another pertinent point could be the interest of selectors in young bowlers in this edition of the tournament, particularly on the pacers. Since Mohammed Siraj came through the Ranji Trophy circuit a few years back, no young talent has been able to produce compelling outings to break into the established Indian pace order.
Even the support line -- consisting of Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep -- has not been consistent enough. In that context, Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu), Gurnoor Brar (Punjab), Yudhvir Singh (J&amp;K), Anuj Thakral (Haryana) and Sakib Hussain (Bihar) etc will evoke keen interest from the selectors.
Matches start at 9 am.

Shubman Gill looks to find form while India aim to continue dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International at Mullanpur, with Hardik Pandya returning and key players under scrutiny.

2nd T20I: Pressure mounts on Gill as India look to press advantage in Mullanpur

Shubman Gill looks to find form while India aim to continue dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International at Mullanpur, with Hardik Pandya returning and key players under scrutiny.

Yet to stamp his authority in the shortest format, Shubman Gill would be eying major gains on home soil when a well-rounded India look to extend their dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International in Mullanpur on Thursday.
With only a travel day separating the first two games of the five-match series, Gill won't mind getting straight into the middle in search of a substantial knock. India steamrolled South Africa in the series opener but the middling returns from Gill, since his T20 comeback in Asia Cup back in September, remains a talking point.
Following an impressive debut as Test captain in the UK, Gill was brought back into the T20 setup. Even though Sanju Samson and his Punjab teammate Abhishek Sharma were doing the job at the top of the order, the team management showed immense faith in Gill's abilities as a T20 opener.
The batter from Kerala was displaced and he has since then struggled to find a place in the playing eleven. The Test and ODI captain can seamlessly perform the role that Virat Kohli performed for India till the T20 World Cup last year but the team, with batting options till number eight, has doubled down on its fearless approach since the triumph in Barbados, leaving little room for an anchor.
Gill certainly can't go hammer and tongs like Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay and therefore needs to figure out what works best for him.
Besides Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has failed to find consistency over the past 12 months, is also facing additional scrutiny. Couple of months down the line, Suryakumar would be leading India's World Cup defence at home and considering the added responsibility, flow of runs from his bat form a crucial piece of the puzzle heading into the ICC showpiece.
In the colder environment of New Chandigarh, India are unlikely to tinker with the winning combination. Returning to national duty from injury, Hardik Pandya reaffirmed his status as the leading all-rounder in the game. His 28-ball 59 made a massive difference on a sticky wicket while it took him one ball to make an impact with the ball.
The selection on Tuesday also indicated that two strike bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, will not be part of the same eleven due to the need for batting till number eight. Arshdeep got the nod on this occasion and India's leading wicket-taker in the format was once again able to provide the early wickets bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa, on the other hand, would be looking for a drastically better outing with the bat after being bundled out for 74 in the run chase of 176. There is no time to reflect on the scale of the defeat and that can only be a good thing for the visitors.
"Nowadays in T20 cricket, there's not much time to look around and absorb. But the biggest factor was obviously not being able to build partnerships, settling after losing wickets and getting some momentum on our side. So yeah, we'll have brief conversations," said skipper Aiden Markram.
The venue would be hosting its first ever T20 International after hosting two women's ODIs back in September. During the last IPL, the pitches produced were not the easiest to bat on with scores ranging from excess of 200 to as low as 101.
On the sidelines of the fixture, stands named after Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur would also be unveiled.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donnovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Ottneil Bartman.
Match starts at 7pm IST.

India start their five-match T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack with the returns of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, as Suryakumar Yadav’s form and the Sanju Samson–Jitesh Sharma wicketkeeper debate remain key talking points.

Gill, Hardik return as India begin official T20I WC build-up vs South Africa

India start their five-match T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack with the returns of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, as Suryakumar Yadav&rsquo;s form and the Sanju Samson&ndash;Jitesh Sharma wicketkeeper debate remain key talking points.

The return of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya will lend fresh sheen and much-needed completeness to reigning world champions India when they begin their official march towards the home T20 World Cup with the opening match of a five-game series against South Africa, in Cuttack on Tuesday.
This series marks the start of India's formal build-up to the February showpiece, where they will play 10 T20Is -- five against South Africa followed by another five against New Zealand -- before opening their title defence against the USA at the Wankhede on February 7.
The defending champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
India have been a formidable T20I unit post their World Cup triumph in the format last year, where they won eight matches in a row to lift the title. Since then, they have extended their tally to 26 wins with only four losses, including a seven-match streak during their Asia Cup victory in Dubai. They have not lost a T20I series in this period, and with only minor tweaks needed, they will be hoping to sharpen the edges against the side they defeated in the T20 World Cup final.
Gill's return Gill's return comes after he missed almost a month of cricket owing to a neck spasm suffered while attempting a slog sweep during the opening Test against the Proteas. Having played non-stop cricket since the last IPL and with India facing a packed season ahead, his workload management will be closely monitored.
But for Gill, who has 837 runs from 33 T20Is at an average of 29.89, this series also doubles up as vital preparation heading into the ICC event. His reunion with Abhishek Sharma brings back a high-impact opening pair that marries brute force with clean, classical strokeplay.
Abhishek, fresh from a standout tour of Australia where he topped India's scoring charts with 163 runs in the 2-1 victory, has been in monstrous domestic touch. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, the Punjab left-hander hammered 304 runs at an average of 50.66 and a staggering strike rate of 249-plus, including a breathtaking 52-ball 148 against Bengal as Punjab posted 310/5.
 Pandya comeback Hardik Pandya's comeback is equally significant. Out for more than two months after a quadricep injury during the Asia Cup, the all-rounder marked his return in style with a 42-ball 77 not out for Baroda in the SMAT before bowling four overs at full tilt for 1/52.
He arrived here a day ahead of the squad, trained solo at the Barabati Stadium, bowled for 20 minutes and went through an extended physical routine. His presence not only deepens India's batting but restores the balance of a bowling attack built heavily on flexibility.
 SKY's form One of the central conversations ahead of the series has been skipper Suryakumar Yadav's prolonged lean patch. The contrast between his dazzling IPL 2025, where he amassed 717 runs for Mumbai Indians, and his underwhelming T20I returns have been striking.
Since taking over as full-time T20I captain in July last year, his form has dipped to an average of 15.33 with 184 runs in 15 innings, he has not scored a fifty in the last 20 games, and his strike rate has reduced to 127.77 from the 187-plus he clocked in 2022. Even in the SMAT this season, he failed to reach a fifty, scoring 165 runs from five matches. Any drastic move before the World Cup looks unlikely, but the next 10 T20Is will add fodder to conversations surrounding both his form and captaincy.
 Sanju vs Jitesh The wicketkeeper-batter debate -- Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma -- remains equally tantalising. India's handling of the pair during the Australia series raised eyebrows, with Samson batting only once, promoted to No. 3, before Jitesh was backed for the last three T20Is.
Since India's World Cup triumph, Samson has been the team's third-highest run-getter, flourishing as an opener with three centuries, including two in South Africa. But Gill's return as vice-captain pushed Samson down the order into a role he rarely occupies in T20 cricket.
In the recent SMAT, Samson looked in excellent touch with two fifties, two 40s and a 56-ball 73 not out against Andhra, while Jitesh managed modest returns for Baroda with a top score of 41 from six outings.
 SA notes South Africa, for their part, welcome back tearaway pacer Anrich Nortje for his first international appearance since last year's T20 World Cup final. Marco Jansen's evolution as a genuine all-rounder adds heft to the visitors; his blistering 93 in the Guwahati Test and 70 off 39 balls in Ranchi underscored a renewed authority with the bat to go with his established potency with the ball.
Veteran left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also returns to the white-ball fold, though the Proteas will sorely miss star batter Tony de Zorzi and young fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, both ruled out of the five-match series due to injury.
Teams (from): India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottineil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donnovan Ferreria, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.
Match Starts: 7pm IST.

Rishabh Pant captains India in Shubman Gill’s absence as the team faces South Africa on a spin-friendly Guwahati track, entering the Test as underdogs.

2nd Test: 'Pitched battle' on cards as India aim to draw level

Rishabh Pant captains India in Shubman Gill&rsquo;s absence as the team faces South Africa on a spin-friendly Guwahati track, entering the Test as underdogs.

Rishabh Pant will walk into an immensely challenging leadership exam in the absence of Shubman Gill as India face the uphill task of restoring parity against a well-prepared South Africa on a surface that is expected to offer appreciable turn in the second and final Test starting in Guwahati on Saturday.
An even tougher test looms for head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose often perplexing calls have left the dressing room and think-tank grappling for clarity. The aura of invincibility while playing at home that accompanied the Indian teams of last three decades has vanished when it comes to the current one, which is looking vulnerable.
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be. If the New Zealand spin duo of Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner tore the perception of invincibility to shreds in 2024, Simon Harmer and his other colleagues are making a young Indian side look even more vulnerable.
The lack of a proper technique to handle spinners is apparent and jarring. Add to it, a massive shift in mindset on tracks that implode, has made matters worse. While Gambhir, with support of men who matter in the BCCI, is perfectly safe when it comes to his job, a 0-5 home record against two SENA countries will damage his coaching legacy forever, and no amount of ICC Trophies would be enough to paper over that aspect.
And in these trying circumstances, Pant will take up leadership in the absence of Gill. He would know quite well that his batting on a red soil Barsapara track will be as important as his decision-making.
That Gill was never in contention to play the second Test after suffering from neck spasms was always clear, but the Indian team management and the BCCI, true to their nature of avoiding clarity till the last minute, denied the inevitable till it became undeniable. According to reliable sources, the 26-year-old has left the city to rest and recuperate.
Sai Sudharsan looks to be the most likely candidate to take Gill's place, although whether he bats at No.3 or Washington Sundar is allowed to continue remains to be seen.
When it comes to captaincy experience, Pant led an Indian T20 team against the same opponents a few years back when Rohit Sharma was rested. But there isn't enough data on his red-ball decision-making skills. Pant did lead a Delhi side to a Ranji Trophy final back in 2017, losing to eventual champions Vidarbha.
However, what would keep experts more interested is the calls he took on the second evening and third morning of the opening Test in Kolkata. By stumps on the second evening, India had reduced South Africa to 93 for 7 with help of spinners. What left a lot to be desired was Pant's eternal wait before handing the ball to Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah on the third morning. By that time, Temba Bavuma had added those additional 60 runs which became decisive.
While Pant, the lively chatterbox behind the stumps, is an incentive for the bowlers, it is Pant the skipper who will have to convince his coach to make some prudent calls when it comes to team selection.
With too many left-handers in the line-up &mdash; as many as seven &mdash; off-spinner Simon Harmer might just have a field day if the covering of grass that was seen on the track on Thursday is shaved off by BCCI curators Taposh Chatterjee and Ashish Bhowmick.
In any case, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia wouldn't want this venue's first ever Test to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Hence, one of the spinners &mdash; Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav &mdash; could make way for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, which can help India exploit any underlying moisture if a third seamer comes into play.
In case his bowling isn't required, being a right-hander with a cavalier approach to batting might just help on these kinds of surfaces. But in the end, it all boils down to faith in players instead of being a slave of the surface.
When it comes to trust, the head coach, for once, would like to walk the talk before another lost home series which will have way more implications than he can ever think of.
Teams (from): India: Rishabh Pant (captain and wk), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Match Starts at 9 am.

Shubman Gill has been released from India’s Test squad against South Africa due to a neck spasm sustained in the first Test. The BCCI confirmed he will focus on recovery, with his participation in the upcoming ODI series yet to be determined.

India captain Shubman Gill released from Test squad due to injury

Shubman Gill has been released from India&rsquo;s Test squad against South Africa due to a neck spasm sustained in the first Test. The BCCI confirmed he will focus on recovery, with his participation in the upcoming ODI series yet to be determined.

India captain Shubman Gill was on Friday released from the Test squad ahead of the second match against South Africa starting Saturday.
Gill suffered a neck spasm while batting in the first innings of the opening Test in Kolkata and was hospitalised after sustaining a whiplash.
"Gill has been released from the squad. He will be working on his recovery," a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Gill travelled with the team to Guwahati but the pain in his nape didn't subside completely. It remains to be seen if he can play the upcoming ODI series.
"We don't want recurrence of spasm during the game," batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said on Thursday.
South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0 after their memorable win at Eden Gardens.

India captain Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test against South Africa as he awaits a crucial fitness test following a neck spasm, with the team prepared for alternatives if he is ruled out.

Shubman Gill Faces Fitness Test Ahead of Second Test vs South Africa

Shubman Gill Fitness Doubt Before 2nd Test

India captain Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test against South Africa as he awaits a crucial fitness test following a neck spasm, with the team prepared for alternatives if he is ruled out.

India captain Shubman Gill, who has not trained due to a neck spasm sustained during the first Test against South Africa, will undergo a fitness test on Friday in a last-ditch attempt to be available for the second game, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has indicated.
Gill developed the spasm on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata that India lost by 30 runs and hasn't returned to the nets ever since. While his chances remain slim, the BCCI sports science team is waiting as long as possible before taking a final call. The second and final Test begins on Saturday.
"See, he is definitely recovering really well, because I also met him yesterday," Kotak said ahead of a practice session that Gill skipped. "Now, the decision will be taken tomorrow evening, because the physios and doctors have to decide whether, even if he is fully recovered, there's a chance of the spasm recurring during the match. That is very important."
"If there is a doubt, then I am sure he will rest for one more game because it won't help the team otherwise. A player like Shubman, and he's the captain so any team would miss him," Kotak added.
While acknowledging the impact of Gill's absence, Kotak expressed confidence in the bench strength. "But if he is missing out because of injury, we have batters and plenty of good players. They are professionals; they should come and perform for the team," Kotak said. "We all wish he plays, but if he doesn't, we will definitely have a good replacement and maybe the guy coming in will score a hundred."
In the first Test in Kolkata, Dhruv Jurel batted at No. 4 in the second innings, and Kotak did not rule out that option again, though he stressed that combinations would only be discussed after Gill's fitness test. "Jurel batted at No. 4, so he is one option. But until we know about Shubman, there is no point discussing who will play," he said. "Once we know, and once we see the wicket tomorrow, we will think about the best combination."
Kotak summed up the significance of Gill's absence in the first Test with pointed clarity. "In the last game, nobody discussed much about what our chances would have been had Shubman batted in both innings," he said. "The second innings may not have even mattered. If in the first innings he had batted and we had one partnership, with a 100-run lead, we would have been fine. That's not an excuse, but a reality that he couldn't bat in two innings."
It is learnt that Gill probably needs 10 days to fully recover and then complete his rehabilitation to be match-ready. But if he plays the Test match, the logical step for the selectors would be to rest him from the three-match ODI series against the Proteas starting November 30 in Ranchi.

India captain Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite a neck injury. BCCI to decide on his participation after medical assessment.

Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for 2nd Test: BCCI

India captain Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite a neck injury. BCCI to decide on his participation after medical assessment.

India skipper Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite his participation being in doubt due to a neck injury, the BCCI announced on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Gill suffered the injury on the second day of the first Test that India lost by 30 runs in Kolkata. He could not bat after retiring hurt in the first innings and was even hospitalised.
The second Test starts on November 22.
"Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement.
"He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly," he added, continuing the suspense over Gill's availability.
With Gill's participation highly unlikely, all-rounder Nitish Reddy has been taken out of the ongoing India A series against South Africa A in Rajkot.
The Andhra batting all-rounder reached Kolkata on Monday evening but did not take part in Tuesday's net session.
With a Test century to his name and being a right-hander, Reddy could be in contention for a place in the playing eleven at Guwahati if Gill is ruled out.

India begins a two-match Test series against South Africa in Kolkata, confronting a potent spin attack. Focus will be on batting application and patience to overcome last year’s home collapse against New Zealand.

India Prepares for Challenging Test Series Against South Africa

India vs South Africa: Test Series Challenge

India begins a two-match Test series against South Africa in Kolkata, confronting a potent spin attack. Focus will be on batting application and patience to overcome last year&rsquo;s home collapse against New Zealand.

India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack when the reasonably well-matched sides clash in an eagerly-anticipated two-match Test series beginning in Kolkata on Friday.
India would be haunted by the ghosts of last year's home debacle against New Zealand when their home record was shattered by Kiwi spinners Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips, who shared 36 wickets across three Tests, fashioning an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash.
Given South Africa's heavy reliance on tweakers right now, that collapse against sustained spin pressure will linger in the collective memory of the home side. The reigning World Test champions are known for fiery pacers historically but are currently armed with one of the most potent spin groups in world cricket.
The Proteas arrive on the back of a morale-boosting 1-1 draw in Pakistan, achieved without inspirational captain Temba Bavuma. South Africa's spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy accounted for 35 of the 39 wickets to fall across the series, outperforming Pakistan&rsquo;s own slow-bowling contingent of Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Salman Agha, who managed 21 wickets collectively.
It was little wonder then that India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate called the rival bowling line-up a "subcontinent-style attack". "They have got four spinners at their disposal, and most likely they will play three. It's a little bit like playing against a subcontinent team," he said. "We've addressed that early on. Hopefully, we've learned from the New Zealand series."
Simon Harmer, now 36 and holder of 1,000 first-class wickets, is no stranger to Indian conditions. As a 26-year-old on the 2015 tour under Hashim Amla, he featured in two Tests &mdash; in Mohali and Nagpur &mdash; and claimed prized scalps such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha, all known for their spin-playing prowess.
A decade later, Harmer remains as wily. He arrives in Kolkata after an eight-wicket match haul in Rawalpindi last month that spun South Africa to a series-levelling win over Pakistan. His control, drift, and subtle changes of pace make him an ideal foil for the left-arm spin of Maharaj, who is arguably one of the most accurate and attacking spinners in the modern game.
The Eden Gardens pitch has therefore become the most-watched element of this contest. While India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and captain Shubman Gill have made multiple pitch inspections, Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has assured that it "won't be a rank-turner".
That will please Jasprit Bumrah, who could be India's trump card on a surface that historically gives early movement and late reverse swing. India would look to go with two pacers and it appears that Akash Deep, the local 'boy', will have the edge with his knowledge of the conditions.
Over the last 15 years, pacers have taken 61 per cent (97 of 159 wickets) in Tests here as seam and swing play a major role, especially in the early and closing stages.
While a young Indian side under Shubman Gill's debut captaincy drew 2-2 in England this summer, showing resilience and adaptability in seaming conditions, it is the New Zealand debacle at home that continues to rankle. The subsequent 2-0 win against a weak West Indies side in this WTC cycle did little to test India's revival.
For India, the focus will be on application and patience against spin. With Rishabh Pant fit again and an in-form Dhruv Jurel set to play as a specialist batter, the middle order looks more stable. Washington Sundar, who topped India's spin charts in that New Zealand series with 16 wickets, provides drift and bounce and lends depth with the bat.
Ten Doeschate underlined the mental readiness required after a gruelling multi-format schedule. "You've got to switch on mentally and be ready for 16&ndash;17 days of really tough work. The body will take care of itself &mdash; the mind has to be ready."
Given it's only a two-match series, the margin for error is slim. Falling behind early could prove fatal especially with unfamiliar conditions set to play their part in the final Test in Guwahati, which will make its debut as a Test venue.
For India, batting big and putting the opposition under scoreboard pressure will be the key to exorcising the ghosts of last year's collapse.
Teams: India: Shubman Gill (Capt), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK and VC), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Devdutt Padikkal.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (Capt), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.
Match starts: 9.30am.

Jasprit Bumrah has been named in India’s Test squad for the home series against West Indies starting October 2 in Ahmedabad. Devdutt Padikkal replaces Karun Nair, while Ravindra Jadeja is vice-captain.

Bumrah Returns for India's Test Series vs West Indies

Bumrah Returns for India vs West Indies Series

Jasprit Bumrah has been named in India&rsquo;s Test squad for the home series against West Indies starting October 2 in Ahmedabad. Devdutt Padikkal replaces Karun Nair, while Ravindra Jadeja is vice-captain.

Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on Thursday named in India's Test squad for the home series against the West Indies while Devdutt Padikkal replaced an off-colour Karun Nair in the side.
Bumrah, who had played only three out of five Tests in England due to workload management, had made himself available for the two-match West Indies series starting in Ahmedabad on October 2.
Ravindra Jadeja was named vice captain of the squad to be led by Shubman Gill.
Regular vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who fractured his foot during the England series, is yet to regain full fitness and therefore was not available for selection.
"...hopefully will be available for home Tests against South Africa (in November)," Chairman of Selector Ajit Agarkar said here.
Dhruv Jurel and N Jagadeesan are the two wicket-keepers in the squad to make up for his absence.
Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp;

Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continue to lead ODI batting rankings with Virat Kohli at fourth, while Australian batters and bowlers climb after strong series against South Africa.

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma retain top ODI rankings

Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continue to lead ODI batting rankings with Virat Kohli at fourth, while Australian batters and bowlers climb after strong series against South Africa.

Indian batting mainstays Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma continued to remain at the top of the rankings for ODI batters with Virat Kohli at number four, even as Australian players made big gains after feasting on South Africa in the recent series finale in Mackay.
Gill (784 rating points) and Rohit (756) held the number one and number two spot respectively with Pakistan's Babar Azam (739) rounding out the top three. Kohli has got 736 points.
The Indians have not featured in ODIs in recent months but Kuldeep Yadav (650) and Ravindra Jadeja (616) still remained static at number three and number nine in the latest ODI rankings for bowlers.
While Rohit and Kohli have retired from T20Is and Test cricket, both remain active in the ODI format.
Both Rohit and Kohli last played ODIs in February 2025 during the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE, where they played pivotal roles in India's title-winning campaign.
Aussies cash in 
Australia amassed an imposing 431/2 in the 50-over match at Mackay with a trio of their batters in Travis Head (142), Mitch Marsh (100) and Cameron Green (118 not out) cashing in with a century.
All three made good ground on the rankings as a result, with Head gaining one place to move to equal 11th, Marsh jumping four rungs to move to 44th and Green rising a whopping 40 slots to be 78th.
Australian teammate Josh Inglis also made ground on the list, with the right-hander improving 23 spots to move to 64th as a result of his innings of 87 during the second match of the series against the Proteas.
The competition is tighter at the top of the rankings for ODI bowlers, with Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana joining fellow tweaker Keshav Maharaj at the top on 671 rating points following the completion of the series between South Africa and Australia.
Maharaj lost ground after picking up figures of 1/57 in the series finale, with his rating dropping equal with Theekshana even as the Sri Lankan spinner didn't feature across the week.
The biggest mover on the ODI rankings for bowlers came via Lungi Ngidi, with the South Africa speedster gaining six places to move to 28th following his series-high seven scalps across the three games against Australia.
Australia duo Sean Abbott (up nine places to equal 48th) and Nathan Ellis (up 21 spots to 65th) also made ground on the list for following some decent showings during the series with the Proteas.

Shubman Gill becomes India's T20 vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah returns, and Kuldeep Yadav joins the 15-member Asia Cup squad.

India squad for Asia Cup: Gill appointed vice-captain, Bumrah included

Shubman Gill becomes India's T20 vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah returns, and Kuldeep Yadav joins the 15-member Asia Cup squad.

Test skipper Shubman Gill was on Tuesday appointed as the vice-captain, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was also included in India's 15-member T20 squad for the Asia Cup starting September 9 in the UAE.
Gill's last T20 match was against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2024 and he has now replaced Axar Patel as the deputy of skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
"Gill's form in England was something we expected but he exceeded it all," chief selector Ajit Agarkar said during the squad announcement press conference here.
There were some lingering doubts on Bumrah's availability largely due to the proximity to the home Test series against the West Indies in October.
But the selectors opted to pick and this will be Bumrah's first T20 tournament since last year's World Cup.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav too has been drafted in, while Jitesh Sharma will be the back-up wicketkeeper batter.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was among the five standby players chosen by the selectors.
"It's unfortunate Jaiswal has had to miss out but he will have to wait," Agarkar said.
India is placed in Group A of the Asia Cup alongside Pakistan, Oman, and UAE.
India squad for Asia Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

India's selection panel faces tough decisions for the Asia Cup. Integrating Shubman Gill, managing leadership, and balancing talent requires strategic choices amid a fierce competition for spots.

Asia Cup: Gill mystery continues as selectors spoilt for choice

India faces a selection dilemma for the Asia Cup, balancing talent and strategy. Integrating Shubman Gill and managing leadership are key challenges in forming the 15-member squad.

The Indian selectors face a major dilemma ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 in UAE&mdash;how to accommodate Shubman Gill in an already settled T20 squad led by Suryakumar Yadav.

How to fit in a brilliant batter like Shubman Gill in a well-oiled T20 set up will be the biggest challenge for India's national selection committee when it gathers on Tuesday to pick the 15-member squad for next month'sAsia Cup in UAE.
As of now, the prolific Test captain, who had a dream run in England recently, is not organically fitting into the side which will play the continental showpiece from September 9 to 28.
For Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues, the major point of deliberation will be how to fix something that doesn't need to be mended.
It's a "scary" conundrum for the selectors but Indian cricket right now is a T20 talent factory with at least 30 players who are ready to come into the national squad with three to four options available for one slot.
For the top three positions, there are six cricketers of similar pedigree available.
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma have been phenomenal in national colours through last season but then the ones who are equally good, if not better, happen to be Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan (the IPL Orange Cap winner).
In bowling, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi are jostling for one slot. And the craftiest of them all Yuzvendra Chahal has been ignored for longest time.
But then selectors can pick only 15 and those in decision-making positions of T20 team have an interesting perspective.
One important member of team management feels that it would be unfair on anyone who has been a first XI regular during the past season to be deprived to accommodate a bigger brand name or star.
The other school of thought is that Indian cricket works well with one all-format captain who also becomes the biggest marketing brand -- in this case Gill, who is an obvious choice for a lot of stakeholders going forward.
But then to assume this will happen smoothly is oversimplification of the issue.
Under Suryakumar Yadav's able leadership, the Indian T20 squad has a phenomenal 85 per cent record, winning 17 of its last 20 games. None of these games featured Gill and Jaiswal.
But there's a catch too.
Before Gill and Jaiswal became busy with Test commitments in the past one year, they were playing T20 Internationals s and were doing well including impressive IPLs.
Gill was in fact vice captain to Surya before he had to forego T20Is due to Tests. Axar Patel, the Delhi Capitals skipper, became Surya's deputy and performed decently even though he is not considered a long-term leadership candidate.
However, Axar will certainly feel shortchanged if Gill supercedes him as Surya's deputy.
On Tuesday, if selectors pick Gill in the 15, then they have to play him in the eleven which means one among Sanju, Abhishek or Tilak will have to compromise their batting slots.
To include Shubman in the 15could also means dropping Rinku Singh. The big-hitter hasn't done much in head coach Gautam Gambhir's era either for Kolkata Knight Riders or India.
In Gambhir's book there's nothing called a designated finisher. So choices won't be easy.
Choice of pacers&nbsp;
With Hardik Pandya being as good a frontline pacer as one can get and Jasprit Bumrah along with Arshdeep Singh being automatic choices in the line-up, there are three options for the reserve seamer's slot.
Harshit Rana looks the favourite as both Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj are being considered red-ball specialists.
With hoem series against the West Indies starting October 2, it is understood that Bumrah might not be required against the relatively weak visitors side as Prasidh and Siraj will be fresh and raring to go.
Choice of spinners
Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav are first three choices and Gambhir's affinity for all-rounders is likely to ensure Washington Sundar in the side.
The pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi won't be as worn out and slow as they were during the Champions Trophy but there is reasonable help for spin bowlers.
Finishers and Keeper-batter
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rishabh Pant are yet to recover from their respective injuries. As a result, Shivam Dube will be the second seam bowling all-rounder after Pandya.
The second keeper's slot is a fight between Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel.
Jitesh played some good knocks as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL-winning campaign and is more suited for a lower-order role.

Gill shines with 754 runs in the Test series against England, earning him ICC Player of the Month for July. His leadership and batting skill were pivotal.

Shubman Gill Named July ICC Player of the Month

Indian captain Shubman Gill's extraordinary series performance earns him ICC Player of the Month award for July, highlighting his leadership and batting prowess.

Shubman Gill: ICC Player of the Month Recognition

Shubman Gill wins July ICC Player of the Month for his exceptional performance against England, featuring a record double century.

The epic double hundred in a winning cause at Edgbaston will forever be etched in the memory of Indian skipper Shubman Gill, who was on Tuesday named ICC's 'Player Of The Month' for scoring 754 runs in the recently-concluded five-Test series against England.
Gill, who was inspirational both as a batter and skipper, led from the front with four hundreds as a young Indian team without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma drew 2-2 against England. The Indian skipper, who won the award ahead of his England counterpart Ben Stokes and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, said he was hoping to continue his good form in the season ahead.
"It feels great to be named the ICC Player of the Month for July. This time it holds a lot more significance since it has come for my performances during my first Test series as captain.  The double ton in Birmingham is obviously something I will cherish forever and will be one of the highlights of my tour to England," Gill was quoted as saying in an ICC media release.
"The Test series against England was a learning experience for me as captain and we had some outstanding performances from both sides, which I am sure players from both sides will remember for a long time.&rdquo; The 25-year-old skipper is hopeful that he can continue his good form in the upcoming series.
"I would like to thank the jury for selecting me for this award and my teammates who have been with me during the course of this exciting series. I look forward to continuing my form in the season ahead and bring more laurels for the country." Gill became the first male player to win the 'Player of the Month' award four times after a stupendous run in England saw him score 567 runs (out of 754 runs) at an average of 94.50 in the three Tests played in July.
His previous ICC Player of the Month awards were in January 2023, September 2023 and February 2025.
The highlight for Gill during this period was his aggregate of 430 runs in the second Test in Birmingham, the second highest ever in a Test match.
His scores of 269 and 161 in that Test helped India level the series 1-1. He also chipped in with a useful 103 in the second innings of the fourth Test in Manchester that helped draw the match and keep the series alive.
Apart from Gill, England batter Sophia Dunkley was adjudged women&rsquo;s 'Players of the Month'.
England batter Dunkley edged her team-mate Sophie Ecclestone and Ireland captain Gaby Lewis for the honour, showing a fine run during this period in ODIs as well as T20Is.
She played in all seven matches at home against India across the two formats, aggregating 270 runs in three ODIs and four T20Is.
Dunkley was England&rsquo;s leading scorer in the T20I series and smashed a superb 92-ball 83 in the first ODI in Southampton.

India captain Shubman Gill was nominated for ICC Player of the Month for July after a record-breaking Test series against England, joined by Wiaan Mulder and Ben Stokes.

Shubman Gill in Contention for ICC Player of the Month

Shubman Gill: ICC Player of the Month Contender

India captain Shubman Gill was nominated for ICC Player of the Month for July after a record-breaking Test series against England, joined by Wiaan Mulder and Ben Stokes.

India captain Shubman Gill was on Wednesday named among the three nominees for ICC&rsquo;s Player of the Month award for July along with South Africa&rsquo;s Wiaan Mulder and England skipper Ben Stokes.
Gill led India remarkably in the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England as his young side emerged with a hard-fought 2-2 draw, a series in which the 25-year-old rewrote batting records.
Gill scored 754 runs in the series against England with four centuries, including a double ton at 75.40 to break legendary Sunil Gavaskar&rsquo;s record (732) for the highest run tally for an Indian captain in a five-Test series.
Gill&rsquo;s returns are now also the second-best behind Sir Donald Bradman (810 runs) in the all-time list for captains.
&ldquo;Shubman Gill had a sensational month, amassing 567 runs at an impeccable average of 94.50 in three Tests during India&rsquo;s gripping series in England,&rdquo; the ICC wrote on its website.
&ldquo;He played a starring role in India&rsquo;s record-breaking win at Edgbaston, where he scored a monumental 269 in the first innings followed by 161 in the second. His combined 430 runs across the two innings is the second highest tally, next only to Graham Gooch&rsquo;s 456,&rdquo; it added.
The ICC said Gill carried the baton from &ldquo;all-time great&rdquo; Virat Kohli at No.4.
&ldquo;His consistency at No. 4, carrying on the baton from all-time great Virat Kohli, provided stability and flair in equal measure, and combined with his extraordinary captaincy in his debut series,&rdquo; it said.
In his maiden outing as South Africa captain, Mulder struck a mammoth 367 not out against Zimbabwe but declared his team&rsquo;s innings when he could have broken legendary Brian Lara&rsquo;s record for highest individual total of 400 not out against England in 2004.
The ICC said, &ldquo;He scored 531 runs across the two matches at an astonishing average of 265.50, including a composed 147 in the second innings of the first Test." &ldquo;However, his standout act came in the second Test at Bulawayo, where he smashed an unbeaten 367 in his maiden outing as South Africa&rsquo;s Test skipper &mdash; the highest individual score in South African Test history.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Mulder also chipped in with the ball, claiming seven wickets at just 15.28 apiece, including a four-wicket haul in the first Test,&rdquo; it added.
The ICC lauded Stokes for his all-round show against India saying, &ldquo;He scored 251 runs at an average of 50.20 and took 12 wickets at 26.33, delivering in high-pressure situations with both bat and ball."
&ldquo;His leadership proved crucial in maintaining England&rsquo;s intensity and belief in a closely contested series. With ball in hand, he bowled long spells, often breaking key partnerships and turning the tide in England&rsquo;s favour,&rdquo; it added.

England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope won the toss and chose to bowl under cloudy skies in the final Test at The Oval.

5th Test: England wins toss, invites India to bat in overcast conditions

England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope won the toss and chose to bowl under cloudy skies in the final Test at The Oval.

England stand-in skipper Ollie Pope won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the fifth and final Test under overcast conditions at The Oval, in London on Thursday.
Trailing 1-2, India made four changes to their playing XI, bringing in Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna in place of injured Rishabh Pant, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj and Jasprit Bumrah.
England are without regular skipper Ben Stokes.
Teams: India: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj.
England: Ollie Pope (c), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.

With England leading 2-1, a resilient Indian team led by Shubman Gill looks to square the fiercely-contested Test series at The Oval. No Bumrah, but plenty of grit.

India vs England: High-Stakes Test Finale at The Oval

India vs England: Test Series Decider at The Oval

With England leading 2-1, a resilient Indian team led by Shubman Gill looks to square the fiercely-contested Test series at The Oval. No Bumrah, but plenty of grit.

India's prospects of signing off the UK tour with some serious bragging rights brightened by a few notches on the eve of fifth Test with England's talismanic skipper Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer rendered unavailable for the game starting Thursday.
Stokes, the inspirational skipper who pushed the limits of his body while bowling in the last two Tests, was ruled out with a muscle tear on his right shoulder while comeback man Archer was rested after the workload of playing in back-to-back matches.
Pacer Brydon Carse and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson have also been rested.
There are players whose mere presence makes a difference and the England skipper, a world class all-rounder with 304 runs and 17 wickets in the series, is one such character.
What the English team will miss most at The Oval is his inspirational presence when the chips are down and showing the way how it is done.
Stand-in captain Ollie Pope will have his task cut out as the Indian team, even without Jasprit Bumrah, is expected to go for the kill.
The series, played in front of packed crowds, has also been a perfect advert for Test cricket with all four games stretching to the final session on day five.
Not to forget the skirmishes along the way that have spiced it up enough for the fans of the game's traditional format.
From Shubman Gill's tirade against Zak Crawley for "deliberately" wasting time at Lord's to Ravindra Jadeja refusing to call off proceedings on the final day at Old Trafford, things couldn't have gotten hotter before the series entered the final phase in sweltering London.
Gautam Gambhir, who is always up for a scrap, has only intensified it with his altercation with Oval curator Lee Fortis two days before the game.
In this backdrop, expect the series finale to go down to the wire as India under the ever-improving Gill has a chance to land a killer blow on an English team whose bowling attack will undergo a sea-change with no specialist spinner in the playing XI.
Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton, the two Surrey players, who know The Oval track like the back of their palms, will be joining forces with Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue to make it a four-pronged attack.
With Woakes being the only bowler who has remained constant from first to fifth Test, England are giving indications of continuing with their Bazball way, having inducted a specialist heavy duty hitter in Jacob Bethell.
History beckons Gill
In his first series as captain of a team undergoing a major transition, Gill has led from the front and with 722 runs so far, he is only 52 shy off Sunil Gavaskar's record of most runs by an Indian in a single rubber.
He needs another 11 runs to surpass Gavaskar's record of most runs (732) by an Indian captain in a Test series (1978-79 vs West Indies).
The 25-year-old has come of age with four hundreds thus far including a double century and a match-saving 103 in the previous Test at Old Trafford. After low returns in three innings, Gill played the most defining knock of his career in Manchester to enhance his reputation, not just as a batter but also as a captain.
Having played a massive role in earning a famous draw from an almost hopeless situation, Gill and his team go into the match with momentum on their side but gaps to fill.
With 511 runs, K L Rahul has been a model of consistency at the top of the order but more will be expected from Yashasvi Jaiswal and number three Sai Sudharsan on what is generally a decent batting surface.
Team Combination 
In injured Rishabh Pant's absence, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to round up the top six following unbeaten hundreds, which denied England a victory in the fourth Test.
The Indian management firmly believes in having a batting option till number eight and that could possibly lead to Kuldeep Yadav being once again left out of the XI despite constant calls for his inclusion over the course of a long and gruelling series.
Dhruv Jurel will keep the wickets and could bat at seven in Pant's absence and Shardul Thakur might retain his place at eight despite not exactly enjoying the confidence of his skipper.
Going by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak's comments ahead of the fifth Test, India will retain the template that has been followed thus far.
"Overall, if you play with 6 bowlers, then some bowlers will under-bowl. So, if that 6th bowler is an all-rounder, then you know that he will contribute in batting and in bowling as well," Kotak said.
On the bowling front, Akash Deep is expected to replace Jasprit Bumrah in the XI with the latter advised to not push his body.
Mohammed Siraj will be the leader of the attack and the third pacer's spot will go to either Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh, who has patiently been waiting for his Test debut.
Surrey amassed more than 800 runs in the last County game played here but it remains to be seen how the pitch behaves during the high-stakes clash.
Teams:&nbsp;
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
India (from): Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (WK).
Match Starts: 3:30 pm IST.

Sai Sudharsan marked his comeback with a gritty fifty while Rishabh Pant retired hurt as India reached 264/4 at stumps on Day 1 of the fourth Test vs England in Manchester.

Sai Sudharsan Hits Gritty Fifty, Pant Injured as India End Day 1 on 264/4

Sai Sudharsan marked his comeback with a gritty fifty while Rishabh Pant retired hurt as India reached 264/4 at stumps on Day 1 of the fourth Test vs England in Manchester.

Sai Sudharsan made the opportunity count in his comeback game with a fifty while Rishabh Pant suffered another injury as India played the old-fashioned way to reach 264 for four at stumps on day one of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday.
At stumps, Ravindra Jadeja (19 batting off 37) and Shardul Thakur (19 batting off 36) were holding fort in fading light.
Put in to bat in overcast conditions, Indian openers KL Rahul (46 off 98 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 107) put on 94 runs for their highest stand of the series before Sudharsan (61 off 151) produced a dogged knock under pressure to justify his selection over Karun Nair.
Batting alongside Sudharsan, Pant (37 retired hurt off 48) had just started flexing his muscles before missing a reverse hit off a full ball from Chris Woakes.
The impact of the ball was on Pant&rsquo;s right foot, leaving him in a lot of pain and eventually he had to be taken off the field in a golf cart.
There were also blood stains on the foot, enough to unsettle the Indian fans and the dressing room. Pant had come into this must-win game after recovering from a finger injury he suffered while keeping during the Lord&rsquo;s Test.
The sun stayed away for the majority of the day but the slow nature of the pitch gave the batters enough time to tackle the extra pace of Jofra Archer.
While Sudharsan was at the crease, he looked comfortable and also had luck going his way, having been dropped down the leg side on 20 by keeper Jamie Smith off Ben Stokes.
He rode that luck to play a couple of pull shots off Archer before playing a crisp back foot punch off Stokes.
The England captain, however, kept dragging an odd ball down the leg side in his effort to induce an edge off Sudharsan&rsquo;s bat before resorting to the short ball tactic.
Sudharsan was up to the task until he pulled one straight into the hands of Brydon Carse at fine leg.
The young Indian batter was watchful at the start of the innings, scoring only off balls pitched on middle and leg. He flicked Archer for his first four before cover driving Liam Dawson.
Until his injury, Pant played his usual way, successfully sweeping Archer before dispatching Carse for a six down the ground.
In the afternoon session, England removed a well set Rahul and Jaiswal before sending back Shubman Gill to leave India at 149 for three at tea.
Having failed to land a wicket in the morning session, England broke through shortly after lunch with Woakes finally rewarded for relentlessly bowling in the off-stump channel. He had Rahul caught at third slip with a ball that seamed away from length.
The second wicket of the session came via left-arm spinner Dawson, who took just seven balls to strike in his first Test in eight years.
Jaiswal played for the spin but the ball did not turn that match, taking a thick outside edge on way to the first slip.
India captain Gill (12) did not last long as he misjudged an incoming ball from Stokes to not offer a shot, trapping him in front.
In the morning session, Jaiswal survived a probing spell from Woakes while Rahul looked solid as ever to steer India to 78 for no loss at lunch.
No team opting to bowl first has ever won at Old Trafford but Stokes ignored that piece of statistics on an overcast morning.
The ball did seam around but lack of pace allowed the Indian openers to play the pull shot with relative ease.
Gill thought it was a good toss to lose and that seems to be the case considering the dry and slow nature of the surface.
Woakes made it most difficult for the batters, especially Jaiswal who was beaten on a number of occasions by the England pacer.
In the first over of the match bowled by Woakes, two edges of Jaiswal&rsquo;s bat did not carry, signalling there was not enough carry off the pitch.
In his eight-over spell, Woakes was pulled twice with Rahul and Jaiswal dispatching him in front of the square.
A streaky drive from Rahul off Woakes brought the Indian opener&rsquo;s 1000 runs in England, a testament to his stellar work at the top of the order even in this series.
Jaiswal, who was removed by Archer twice at Lord&rsquo;s, made a conscious effort to leave balls. The southpaw was also forced to change his bat when a ball from Woakes seamed back sharply from round the wicket to hit high on his bat, breaking the handle.
The openers somehow managed to survive the first hour of play, taking India to 42 for no loss in 14 overs.
Despite backing Nair on the eve of the game, Gill dropped the number three batter for Sudharsan .
The other two were forced changes with uncapped Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur making way for the injured Akash Deep and Nitish Reddy respectively.&nbsp;

India aim to level the Test series against England at Old Trafford despite injuries to key players like Nitish Reddy. Shubman Gill leads a reworked side, while England remain unchanged barring Liam Dawson.

India vs England: Old Trafford Test Match Preview

India aim to level the Test series against England at Old Trafford despite injuries to key players like Nitish Reddy. Shubman Gill leads a reworked side, while England remain unchanged barring Liam Dawson.

An injury-plagued India could be forced to depart from its preferred template when it takes on a reinvigorated England in the fourth Test starting in Manchester on Wednesday, hoping to end a winless record at the storied Old Trafford and draw level in what has been a compelling series so far.
Following the first Test in Leeds, India had found a settled line-up by fielding three all-rounders in the playing eleven including Nitish Reddy, who has now been ruled of the series due to a knee injury.
With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar being the two spin bowling all-rounders, India had the cushion of batting till number eight but that may not be the case in Manchester, where the visitors are yet to win in nine attempts including four losses and five draws. England are leading 2-1 going into the penultimate game of the rubber.
Shardul Thakur, who played the series-opener, would be the direct replacement for Reddy in the playing eleven but he doesn't provide the same batting quality. If selected, he would have to up his game with the ball too as Reddy had produced timely wickets in the third Test at Lord's.
Considering the options available, India could also go back to the combination they played at Leeds where they had only one spinner in Jadeja and there were specialist batters till number six with both Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan in the playing eleven.
Also in the mix are uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna. Either of them can come in for Akash Deep if he is not able to recover fully from his groin injury.
Like Akash Deep, Kamboj can generate plenty of seam movement and he also looked in good shape in the first outdoor training session ahead of the high-stakes contest. He was also a part of India A's shadow tour of England.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and workhorse Mohammed Siraj are two certain starters in the playing eleven.
Lord's was the first time in the series that Indian batters faltered and the Shubman Gill-led line-up would be looking to course correct with all to play for.
Despite low returns in the third Test, Gill has aggregated more than 600 runs in the series and from the team's point of view, he would need to return to his heavy scoring ways.
Jofra Archer got the better of Yashasvi Jaiswal twice in his successful return to Test cricket and the young Indian left-hander would be better prepared to deal with the extra pace of the England fast bowler.
Gill has been the team's leading run getter but someone who has looked most assured in the middle across six innings is K L Rahul, having provided a batting masterclass in English conditions at the top of the order.
Considering the training session 48 hours before the game, Rishabh Pant appears to have fully recovered from his finger injury and would be performing his dual duties as usual.
If Nair gets another opportunity, he would be desperate to convert his starts into a big score. With fourth 50-plus scores on the trot, Ravindra Jadeja has been rock solid in the middle order but is expected to do more with the ball.
Compared to other venues in the country, India don't play that regularly here with their last outing at Old Trafford coming in 2014. The last hundred from an Indian at this ground came from the bat of Sachin Tendulkar way back in 1990.
While India are in a must-win situation, England are in the driver's seat having taken the series lead at Lord's.
Like they usually do, Ben Stokes picked his playing eleven before the game and the only change for Wednesday is Liam Dawson coming in for the injured Shoaib Bashir. The left-arm spinner last played for England in July 2017.
It has been raining regularly in Manchester for the past week or so and there is forecast for light showers for the majority of the five days.
Considering the damp weather, there would be moisture to exploit for the fast bowlers on day one.
Tempers flaring on both sides has added to the excitement of the series and Old Trafford promises to be another cracker.
"Every game we've played so far has gone into the last hour of the game, which you do not see very often. I've had a lot of people come up to me saying 'it's been an amazing series, thank you'.
"Everybody said that the Lord's game was one of the best games that they've watched, so it's been an amazing series and I'm looking forward to the rest of it," said Harry Brook.
Squads:&nbsp;
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vc &amp; wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (vc), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

Shubman Gill's impressive debut as India Test captain, scoring 430 runs to level the series against England. His strategic move involving Akash Deep's inclusion was pivotal. Gill's leadership shines and sets the stage for the third Test at Lord's.

Ravi Shastri compares Shubman Gill to Don Bradman in high praise

Shubman Gill's debut as captain saw India secure a 336-run victory over England in the second Test. Gill's remarkable 430 runs and strategic decisions, including selecting Akash Deep, were instrumental. Bumrah's return is set for the third Test at Lord's.

Shubman Gill's captaincy debut saw India leveling the series against England, with Gill scoring 430 runs in the second Test. His strategic choices, including Akash Deep's selection, were vital in the victory. Jasprit Bumrah set to return for the third Test.

IIndia captain Shubman Gill led from the front to help his side win the second Test against England and draw the five-match series level at 1-1.
Shubman Gill, the newly appointed skipper, marked his thrilling debut as Test captain with a resounding win, as India triumphed by a staggering margin of 336 runs.
Gill was at the forefront, amassing a remarkable 430 runs across both innings, the second-highest tally by a player in a single Test.
This stellar performance drew accolades from former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri, who lavished praise on the 25-year-old.
"A captain's performance can't get any better. A perfect 10 out of 10. When you're down in the series and you respond with batting reminiscent of Don Bradman, scoring 269 and 161, and clinching a win," Shastri acclaimed.
&nbsp;
Gill's explosive start to the series, featuring three major centuries, has rocketed him to the top of the run charts with 585 runs in just two matches.
&nbsp;
This remarkable feat has lifted his Test average from just over 35 to nearly 43. Shastri was also captivated by Gill's captaincy and strategic decisions, particularly highlighting his choice to include Akash Deep.
&nbsp;
"Your captaincy evolved from reactive in the first Test to proactive in the next. You might have uncovered the best seamer for English conditions in Akash Deep, who could pose significant challenges to England as the series progresses," Shastri said.
&nbsp;
In the wake of this victory, Gill announced the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the third Test at Lord's. However, after Akash Deep's remarkable ten-wicket haul, his spot in the team seems secure as India gears up for the next encounter.

shubman gill

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