Team India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said that India captain Shubman Gill’s absence from the first two days of the warm-up fixture against Sri Lanka Cricket XI was a precautionary measure. He also added that Gill is fully fit and ready for the first Test match in Galle starting on August 15. Gill, who didn’t take the field in the first two days due to an impact injury to his right ring finger during a practice session on Thursday, returned to open the batting in the second innings and looked in good touch during his 44-run knock.

“I think it was just a precaution more than anything else and he has been absolutely fine. He has been doing his training and the management decided that we could just take that precaution of not putting him into that first day. I think everything, the way he batted in the second inning was again flawless and he is very much ready for the Test match,” Bahutule said in the post-match press conference.

While discussing Gill’s analytical preparation for the Test series in the island nation, Bahutule added that Shubman Gill leaves nothing when preparing for specific opposition bowling line-ups.

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“I think Shubman takes his preparation very seriously and he is a very meticulous boy. He understands that whatever is the demand for that particular series with the attack, which has been successful for the Sri Lankan team, his preparation is done accordingly. So, the net bowlers who have come with us, they have a good opportunity to bowl Shubman and we were doing a few scenarios with which Shubman was responding. I think this helps him to prepare and that was our effort,” he again shared.

While speaking about giving batting time to pace bowlers Gurnoor Brar and Mohammed Siraj, who smashed big hits with the bat at the end of the innings, Bahutule shared that it’s a part of the plan to get batting contributions from them in the Test series as well.

“The lower order bowlers, as you saw, Gurnoor and Sairaj did a good batting time. So, there is a process. All the lower order bowlers, who basically bat in lower order, their contribution will always be very useful to achieve a good total in the Test match and that is the entire process. We are encouraging them to bat as much as possible in the nets and see how they can contribute towards the team score,” he added.

Meanwhile, star batter Devdutt Padikkal also impressed during the game, scoring an unbeaten 142 in the first innings as well.

“I think whoever gets that opportunity, Devdutt got this opportunity. He expressed himself. He batted beautifully and he is ready to (play). Whatever the decision, once we go to Galle, we will see the pitch and whatever decision has to be taken, it will be (done). But he has got those runs behind him. He has got the confidence behind him. Now, whether we take it, or whether he gets into the 11 is something which we will decide only at Galle,” he added.

“See, I think everybody knows that we are 5th at the moment and WTC cycle is a very important cycle. Every series is important. So, our effort is that we, back of the mind, we definitely want to go there and win and be a part of the finals and win the WTC also. The only thing is that, as you said, it is process oriented. We will see one game at a time. See how we can play the series to our potential and win it and slowly and steadily get there,” Sairaj Bahutule concluded.