Border Gavaskar Trophy: Rana to debut, Gill's replacement locked

While the fans eagerly await the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, India is in a conundrum with mainstays of the team unavailable. Skipper Rohit Sharma has all but confirmed his unavailability for the Perth Test that kick-starts the BGT on November 22. Deepening the void in the batting order, the team’s number three pick, Shubman Gill, was ruled out of the first Test due to a fractured thumb. The young batter sustained the injury while fielding during India’s practice session at WACA. Now, with just a few days remaining for the action to go live, reports suggest that the Indian management has identified the replacement for Gill in the Playing XI. Moreover, the update also predicts the debut of pacer Harshit Rana at Perth on November 22.

India endured multiple setbacks in quick succession on the course to the opening Test of the BGT. Rohit Sharma, whose participation chances were in doubt, is now officially out of the Perth Test. While Sharma’s absence from the clash was somewhat expected, another blow soon followed. During a practice session at WACA, Shubman Gill fractured his thumb while fielding. The young batter was the confirmed pick for the number three position in the Indian Playing XI for the series. However, with Gill ruled out due to the injury, the management found itself in a deep quandary about forming the best possible Playing XI to face the Kangaroos at Perth.

Border Gavaskar Trophy: Devdutt Padikkal set to replace Shubman Gill for the Perth Test

In a bid to keep the squad fully strengthened despite Gill’s injury, Devdutt Padikkal was asked to stay back with the main squad for the BGT. Padikkal arrived in Australia as part of the India A squad that played two unofficial Tests against Australia A. While India A lost both matches, Padikkal emerged as one of the top performers with the bat. The Karnataka batter scored 88 in Mackay. Across the two matches, Padikkal managed scores of 36, 88, 26, and 1. While the tally isn’t extraordinary, Padikkal edged past Sai Sudharsan, who hit a century down under, to be named in the main squad.

Now, a recent report suggests that the 24-year-old batter will replace Shubman Gill in the Indian Playing XI for the Perth Test. Padikkal debuted for India in Tests earlier this year during the England Tour of India. The batter scored 65 on his debut in Dharamshala, the only chance he got to bat in the series. Reportedly, the selectors want to bank on Padikkal’s acclimatisation to Australian conditions.

"He (Padikkal) is likely to bat at the No. 3 spot now," a source revealed to TOI. 

Harshit Rana in line to debut for India during the opening BGT Test

The report further informed that young pacer Harshit Rana is set to debut for India in the Perth Test. In Rohit's absence, India’s first Test in Perth will see ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as captain, as confirmed by Gautam Gambhir earlier. Harshit Rana, reportedly, impressed head coach Gautam Gambhir and others with his stellar performance in a recent simulation match at WACA, particularly with his bouncers. Consequently, the seamer could be in line for his Test debut.

"Harshit was very impressive in the match simulation at Perth, especially while bowling his bouncers. There's a good chance that he will make his India debut at Perth," the source revealed.

Harshit Rana has been close to the Indian squad for months now. After impressing with 19 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, Rana followed the Indian white-ball squad to Sri Lanka. The seamer was also named as one of the bowling reserves for India’s home Test series against New Zealand. However, Rana, who was retained by KKR as an uncapped player for IPL 2025, is yet to earn his national cap.

Now, if the latest reports are to be believed, the seamer is finally on the cusp of becoming a ‘capped’ player on November 22. The KKR pacer has featured in 10 first-class games, claiming 43 wickets at an average of 24. This season, he participated in a Ranji Trophy match against Assam in Delhi, delivering a standout performance with a five-wicket haul before rejoining the Indian squad for the final Test against New Zealand in Pune. Moreover, the chances are similarly high for pace all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to debut at Perth.