Shubman Gill drops a big tip for the playing XI in Sri Lanka’s first Test, and the rookie is likely to be overlooked

India captain Shubman Gill dropped enough hints that Prasidh Krishna will share the new ball with veteran Mohammed Siraj in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Saturday, even as he admitted that choosing between the Karnataka fast bowler and rookie Gurnor Brar is a “tough decision”. While India will go with three left-arm slow bowlers – two traditional pacers in Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar and a wrist-spinner in Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj is the only certainty among the four Indian bowlers on this tour.

While Aqib Nabi is not even in contention, the choice is between the 6ft 5in Brar and the inch shorter Prasidh, who has already played seven Tests and taken 25 wickets.

“Gurnor Brar is excellent with the old ball as he can bounce at good pace. But Prasidh Krishna is playing well recently as we saw in the warm-up match. So it’s a tough task,” Gill said on the eve of the opening Test.

For him, this series is an opportunity for the likes of Prasidh and Brar to raise their hands in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who will miss out due to a knee injury.

“Jasprit Bumrah is not here but it is an opportunity for someone to step up. It is all about understanding the pace of the game,” Gill added.

Southpaw Devdutt Padikkal is expected to start at number three in the absence of another left-hander Sai Sudharsan while Dhruv Jurel is expected to bat under pressure in the middle order despite his poor returns in the last few Tests.

Expressing his opinion on this matter, the captain said: “The players will develop on their own. We need to give them time, some players need some time.”

He also dismissed speculations about there being a breakdown in communication between the team management and the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.

“There is constant communication with them. Unfortunately, Sai Sudharsen has not improved as much as we wanted because we cannot take any risks in the Tests. But we are confident in our 15 (players),” Gill said, putting up a brave front.

With one year under his belt as Test captain, Gill feels he is growing in that role with every game, and this series will be about mending the wheels of the World Test Championship juggernaut that has taken off in recent months.

“I’m comfortable in my role as captain now. Our aim is to stay in contention for a place in the World Test Championship final. We need to win six or seven Tests for that. So we want to start here,” the skipper said.

The first Test against Sri Lanka will be India’s historic 600th match in the traditional format after the country made its debut in 1932.

“Leading my country in the 600th Test is an honour, and to do so on Independence Day is an even greater honour,” he signed off.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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