Shubman Gill is likely to miss the first Test of the five-match series against England, beginning next month. He endured a leg injury during the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The exact nature or extent of the injury is not known, however.
As per some sources, Gill has injured either his calf or hamstring. The first Test will start on 4 August in Trent Bridge. The Indian contingent, currently on a short break, will be reunited in Durham on 15 July, where full-fledged practice sessions are bound to happen.
India have no dearth of options to replace Gill. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul are there as specialist openers, while both Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari have opened in Test cricket.
In case Gill misses the whole series, Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is among the four stand-by players for the tour, may also be drafted in. Easwaran, one of the most consistent openers in the domestic circuit, has shown a pedigree of playing big knocks.
Gill impressed everyone on his debut series, in Australia, but has failed to replicate the same since then. He has an ordinary campaign against England at home, and failed to perform in the WTC final.