India captain Shubman Gill was struck on his right elbow while batting in the nets ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, raising concerns just two days before the opening match.

Gill was facing Mohammed Siraj during a net session when a delivery hit him on the right elbow. The India captain immediately appeared to be in discomfort and left the practice area without returning to bat later in the session.

The incident occurred during India’s preparations for the opening ODI, with Gill scheduled to lead the side in the three-match series.

Gill Leaves Nets After Blow

The delivery from Siraj struck Gill on his right elbow and immediately brought the practice session to a halt.

Siraj quickly went over to check on the batter, who was visibly in pain and holding his right arm. Gill then walked out of the nets accompanied by the team physiotherapist.

Rather than immediately returning to the dressing room, Gill sat on one of the cooler boxes positioned beside the practice area.

The physio initially assessed the movement and flexibility around Gill’s shoulder before applying an ice pack to the affected area.

Gill kept the ice pack on his elbow for around 20 minutes. The physio then returned and placed a piece of plaster over the area where he had been struck.

India Teammates Check on Gill

Gill remained seated for a considerable period as the rest of the team continued training.

Siraj stayed with him for some time after the incident, while former India captain Rohit Sharma also briefly came over to check on Gill.

Later, Virat Kohli and Gurnoor Brar joined Gill beside the nets. The India captain continued to keep the ice pack on his elbow while receiving attention from the support staff.

The presence of several teammates highlighted the concern around the incident, although there was no immediate indication of the severity of the injury.

Gill eventually appeared more comfortable and even shared a light moment with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

He mimicked a shot using his left arm while keeping his right arm straight, suggesting that he was still taking care to avoid putting stress on the injured elbow.

Physio Continues to Monitor Gill

More than an hour after the initial blow, Gill was given the ice pack again by the physiotherapist, seemingly as a precaution.

He continued to remain near the practice area while his teammates completed their session.

Approximately 90 minutes after being struck, the physio conducted another assessment of Gill.

The captain did not return to batting during the remainder of the practice session. However, he was able to remove and pack his protective equipment himself.

He also spent some time handling his bat before the session concluded, remaining around the nets almost until the end of training.

He eventually walked away from the practice area carrying his bat in one hand and his pads in the other.

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Gill’s Availability for First ODI Under Watch

The incident comes at an important stage of India’s preparations for the first ODI against the West Indies.

Shubman has been named India’s ODI captain and is expected to play a central role in the team’s batting lineup. Any injury concern involving the captain so close to the opening match will therefore be closely monitored by the team management.

At present, the extent of the elbow injury has not been established from the events at the nets alone. Shubman ability to move around and pack his equipment himself provides some indication that he was able to continue with routine movements, but his decision not to bat again means the team will likely assess him further before making any decision regarding the match.

India Prepare for West Indies Series

The first ODI is scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram, with India using the training sessions to prepare for the series.

This injury scare has now become one of the main talking points ahead of the opening game.

The India captain will likely undergo further assessment before the team decides whether he is ready to take part in the match.

For now, the immediate concern is monitoring his right elbow and ensuring that he is fit enough to bat and lead the side.

With the first ODI only two days away,  his will be closely watched by the Indian team management and supporters as India prepare to begin their home series against the West Indies.