Shubman Gill was ruled out of the opening day of India’s three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI in Colombo after suffering an injury to his right ring finger during Thursday’s practice session. The development came as a surprise at the toss, with vice-captain KL Rahul walking out to lead India instead. Sri Lanka XI captain Sonal Dinusha won the toss and opted to bat first at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground. The warm-up fixture is India’s final preparation ahead of their upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with the first Test scheduled to begin in Galle on August 15. The BCCI confirmed that Gill sustained an “impact injury” to his right ring finger during India’s practice session on Thursday. The board said that, as a precautionary measure, the Indian captain would not take the field on Day 1, while the BCCI Medical Team continues to monitor his progress.
In Gill’s absence, Rahul was handed the responsibility of leading the side for the warm-up match. Gill’s injury will nevertheless be closely monitored with the Test series approaching. India are scheduled to play the second Test in Colombo from August 23, making his recovery an important talking point for the team management. For now, the decision to keep him out of the warm-up’s opening day reflects a cautious approach as India prioritise the captain’s fitness ahead of the competitive series.
