Perth, Australia

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has provided a key update on Shubman Gill’s availability for the Perth Test as he faces race against time to be fit for the opening contest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gill, having injured his left thumb during a warm-up match against the WACA simulation side on Saturday (Nov 16), is still in frame for the opener. According to Morkel, a call will be taken on Gill’s availability on the morning of Day 1 as Indian fans will have their fingers crossed.

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Morkel provides key update

"Shubman is improving every day. Obviously picked up a nasty blow in that warm-up game. With him, it's going to be a day-to-day sort of process. Fingers crossed for that improvement, I think we will wait to make a call on the morning of the Test match," Morkel told the press in Perth on Wednesday.

India will face a huge crisis in the batting order in case Gill is not available, as the World Test Championship (WTC) runners-up are already without skipper Rohit Sharma, who is on paternity leave. According to the former South Africa pacer, Gill is recovering well and is still in the frame for a place in the Playing XI for the Perth Test which starts on Friday (Nov. 22).

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India are likely to hand a debut to Nitish Kumar Reddy for the Perth Test if Gill fails to recover. KL Rahul is expected to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Virat Kohli will bat at number three.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India-Australia series) Schedule

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1st Test: 22nd November to 26th November, Perth

2nd Test: 6th December to 10th December, Adelaide

3rd Test: 14th December to 18th December, Brisbane

4th Test: 26th December to 30th December, Melbourne

5th Test: 3rd January to 7th January, Sydney