India captain Shubman Gill suffered a significant injury scare on Friday, 26 September 2025, after being struck on his right elbow by a sharply rising delivery from pacer Mohammed Siraj during a nets session in Thiruvananthapuram, just two days before the first ODI against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday.

How the Incident Unfolded

The blow came from a length delivery by Siraj that reared up unexpectedly and hit Gill flush on the elbow. The Indian skipper immediately dropped his bat and walked off the practice strip in visible pain, requiring extended attention from team physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain for nearly 20 minutes.

A visibly worried Siraj and veteran batter Virat Kohli — who was practising in an adjacent net at the time — both rushed over to check on Gill. The support staff strapped his arm as he sat on the sidelines, clearly in considerable discomfort.

Gill's Recovery and Team Watch

Gill did not return to bat for the remainder of the evening session, though he was later spotted sharing a lighter moment with young pacer Gurnoor Brar, offering some reassurance about his overall condition. The Indian team management will closely monitor his recovery ahead of the Sunday match.

This is not the first time Gill has faced a pre-series fitness concern. Last month, during India's tour of Sri Lanka, he was struck on his ring finger during practice but recovered in time to participate in the full series, which India won 1-0.

India's Broader Fitness Concerns

The timing of this setback is particularly challenging. India are already without seam-bowling all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana, both of whom remain sidelined. Before the unfortunate blow, Gill had appeared in sharp touch at the crease alongside Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Rohit and Kohli both completed extended 20-minute batting stints, facing a combination of national squad bowlers and local net options.

West Indies: Off the Field Concerns

The visiting side has its own set of challenges. Despite arriving in Thiruvananthapuram on 23 September, the West Indies team had yet to hold a training session as of Friday and was expected to take to the nets only on Saturday, the eve of the match.

The visitors arrive amid unsettling financial developments back home, where Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently announced a 25 percent cut in player retainer fees and suspended this year's men's Super50 tournament, citing rising operational costs — a development that could weigh on squad morale heading into the series.

What to Watch

All eyes will be on Gill's fitness assessment on Saturday. Should his availability remain in doubt, India's think tank will face a tough selection call for a series opener that carries significant bilateral importance. The three-match ODI series begins on Sunday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.