Gill and Rishabh Pant expected to play second test after both players were passed fit in their respective fitness tests.
Gill and Rishabh Pant are both likely to be available for the second test vs New Zealand in Pune. Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, has recommended two days off from the match.
As they look to recover from the loss in the series opener in Bengaluru, India is also confident that Pant will play as a wicketkeeper again.
When Pant was trying to stump Devon Conway in the 37th over of New Zealand’s batting on the second day of the Test, he injured his knee. He took a hit after failing to catch the ball. He immediately left the pitch after flinching in agony. Pant gave the gloves to Dhruv Jurel, who maintained them for the remainder of the first innings and the final 27.4 overs of the second innings for New Zealand.
“Rishabh’s pretty good,” ten Doeschate said. “I think Rohit [Sharma] touched on it the other day. He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed he’ll be good to keep in this Test as well.
“He’s batted last week in Bangalore, he had a few nets,” ten Doeschate said of Gill. “He’s got a little bit of discomfort, but I’ll think he will be good to go for the Test.”
Pant had severe injuries in a car accident in December 2022, so the team will be cautious about taking chances with his knee. In India’s second innings in Bengaluru, he returned to bat and struck 99 off 105 balls, but he appeared uneasy as he ran between the wickets. Captain Rohit had demanded a “extra careful” approach to Pant’s injuries after India had lost that Test.
Jurel was the first to go through keeping drills at India’s first practise session on Tuesday in Pune, with Pant observing from the sidelines. Then, against the spinners and net bowlers of India, Pant batted fiercely in the nets. At the end of India’s training session, Pant also held wickets.
Additionally, Ten Doeschate explained that R Ashwin, who only bowled two overs during New Zealand’s first-Test chase of 107, is not injured. India isn’t making too much of the fact that Ashwin gave up 94 runs in 16 overs for just one wicket in New Zealand’s opening innings as Tim Southee and Rachin Ravindra attacked him.
“Ashwin’s fine. He’s absolutely fine,” ten Doeschate said. “He bowled nicely. I know he bowled only two overs in the second innings, but it looked like his pace and his rhythm were back to where it needs to be.”