Shubman Gill suffers elbow injury scare ahead of West Indies ODI series
India captain Shubman Gill suffered an elbow injury scare during a practice session in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, two days before the start of the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. He was struck on the elbow by a rising delivery from Mohammed Siraj while batting in the nets and was left in considerable pain.
Gill stopped batting immediately and received medical attention for nearly 20 minutes before returning to the nets later in the session to face throwdowns. The incident briefly raised concerns about his availability for the series opener, but there was no immediate indication from the team that he would be ruled out of the first match.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were part of India’s preparations in Thiruvananthapuram as both senior batters rejoined the ODI setup. Team management are using the series to try to settle the batting combination ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel commented on Gill’s leadership and the value of experience within the squad, saying: "I must say that Shubman has done an exceptional job so far leading the team. But I'm always a big believer in your senior players and how they shape the team. I think different players in the team will feel more comfortable speaking to a certain senior individual. "And we're quite fortunate that we've got a lot of experience and conversations, and that can only be great for the team. So, yeah, we're quite fortunate that we've got that experience with the senior players."
Morkel’s remarks came as India prepared for a series described as a blend of youth and experience. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in the ODI side, Gill will have senior teammates available while he continues as India’s captain.
The West Indies tour is being treated as part of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the team aiming to build clarity around its 50-over combination. Selection and fitness monitoring during the series will form part of that process.
Gill’s fitness will be closely monitored ahead of the first match; the three-match ODI series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, followed by the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30 and the third and final ODI in New Chandigarh on October 3.
