Gill rejects reports of communication gap with BCCI CoE ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

India captain Shubman Gill denied a breakdown in communication between the team management and the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru at a pre-match press conference a day before the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka. He said there has been ongoing contact over the fitness of players returning from injury and that the management is monitoring rehabilitation closely.

Speculation of strained links followed the ruling out of three players who had been named in India's squad for the series. "There is a constant communication with them. Unfortunately Sai Sudharsan did not improve as much as we liked as we can't take risks in Tests. But we are confident of our 15 (players)," Gill said, addressing the fitness-related absences.

Gill explained the rationale for being cautious with injured players by referencing the duration and demands of Test cricket. "The Test match is for 5 days. If it's one-day or T20, then it's a different story. But in the Test match, you don't want to take a risk," he said, adding that the longer format gives players more chances to recover form during a match.

On the specific selections that followed the withdrawals, Gill acknowledged disappointment over those players missing out but said it had not harmed team morale. "But it didn't affect the morale of the team that much that they didn't get the first 11. I feel that whoever is in our 15 or whoever we give a chance in our playing 11 in any condition, they can play well and win the game," he said.

India will start the series with Ravindra Jadeja listed as the only all-rounder while Washington Sundar remains in recovery. Gill backed Manav Suthar as a potential contributor should he be required, saying: "He's got the ability with the bat... And hopefully he does that in the series. He's someone with a great skill with bowling. And he's got the potential to be able to be a really good number 8 batsman as well."

On preparation, Gill noted some players gained match practice recently, with several participating in India A fixtures last month and others facing an SLC XI last week to experience local conditions. "If the scheduling allows us to have at least a week or 10 days before the Test match starts, it obviously helps with the preparation. Even last year we had a quite busy schedule - playing in England and then playing in the Asia Cup, then playing a Test match in India. So, it's never easy for the players to be able to adapt," he said.

The first Test of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starts the following day, with India travelling into the match having made last-minute changes to their squad due to fitness concerns.