IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Centurion Shubman Gill To Miss Action On Day 4 Due To Injury

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India batter Shubman Gill will not take the field on day 4 of the second Test against England at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the BCCI said on Monday (February 5).

Gill, who returned to form with an excellent century on day 3, had suffered an injury to his right index finger when fielding on day 2 and has hence not taken the field on the penultimate day of the Vizag Test.

"UPDATE: Shubman Gill hurt his right index finger while fielding on Day 2. He won't be taking the field today," BCCI posted on X ahead of the day's play in Visakhapatnam, where England need to chase record fourth innings score in Asia to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Sarfaraz Khan, who was added to the squad to cover for injured KL Rahul, took the field as a substitute for Gill at the start of play on day 4 as India looked for early wickets to add pressure on the English batters.

The 24-year-old Gill had struggled for big runs since his move to number three, but the youngster silenced the critics with his third Test century, which put India in command in the second Test as the hosts look to level the series following defeat in the series opener.

Gill's knock of 104 that included 11 fours and 2 sixes, helped India take a 398 run lead, setting a target of 399 for England in the fourth innings of the Test. Gill was satisfied to get runs under his belt.

"It was very important and very satisfying for me to be able to score runs at No. 3. And it felt pretty good, especially with the situation," Gill was quoted as saying after the day's play by ESPNcricinfo.

"We lost Yashasvi and Rohit [Sharma] bhai - they've been giving us really good starts at the top of the order. I think it was important for us to get a big lead and to be able to get as many runs as possible."

As England face an uphill task in the run chase, they will be hopeful of star batter Joe Root's availability during their innings after the 33-year-old was forced to leave the field on day 3 due to injury.

Root sustained an external blow on his right finger while attempting to take a catch at slip in the first session on Day 3, but his compatriot and senior pacer James Anderson is hopeful he plays a part in the run chase.

While speaking after the end of day three, Anderson said that Root's "finger is not great". He added that the medical team is making sure that he can bat for the English side on day four.

"His finger is not great. He took a blow in training this morning and again on the field. It's just making sure that is as good as it can be for when he bats. Hopefully tomorrow he'll turn up at the ground and be okay to hold a bat," Anderson said as quoted by ICC.