Shubman Gill undergoes scans on injured finger, says would be fine

Shubman Gill (Pic: AFP)

Indian batter Shubman Gill on Monday played down the finger injury which kept him off the field on the fourth day of the IND vs ENG 2nd Test, revealing that scans have not thrown up anything of concern and he would be fine in the next few days.

Though Gill batted on day 3, scoring a 147-ball 104 and playing a crucial role in India's 106-runs series-levelling win in the five-match rubber, he did not come out to field on Monday. Sarfaraz Khan substituted for him on the field.

Gill had hurriedly left the ground at the end of day's play on Sunday after hurting his right index finger and after the match drew to a close on Monday, he revealed that he had gone for scans.

"I had to go for the scans yesterday, so they rushed me off (to know) like how sore is my finger in the evening... to check that and to know how am I feeling," Gill told the host broadcaster after India's win, adding that he would be fine.

Earlier on Monday, the Indian team management issued a statement saying, "Shubman Gill hurt his right index finger while fielding on Day 2. He won't be taking the field today."

A vital member in the slip cordon, Gill had taken four catches during England's first innings. Chasing a record 399 for victory, England were bowled out for 292 in the second session on day four in Visakhapatnam, despite an attacking start and Zak Crawley's 73.

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Bumrah and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who ended the match on 499 Test wickets, took three each in the final innings and the pace spearhead bowled Tom Hartley to seal the win. Gill set up the comeback victory for the hosts with his 104 on day three to set England, who won the opening Test, a daunting target.

England came out swinging with their "Bazball" brand of cricket, Crawley and company hitting boundaries despite losing wickets. Skipper Ben Stokes said he had "full belief" that they could chase the total down. "The way we have gone about taking on challenges like that is what we are about," he said.

Axar Patel got a key breakthrough when he trapped Rehan Ahmed lbw for 23, after the nightwatchman hit five fours in his 31-ball knock. Ollie Pope hammered five boundaries in his brief stay at the wicket, before Ashwin had him caught at slip on 23.

The chase soon lost steam with two wickets in five balls before lunch, including Crawley out lbw off left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The lbw appeal was turned down by the on-field umpire but India successfully reviewed the call. Jonny Bairstow followed just four balls later, with England at 194-6. Stokes attempted to get the chase back on track after lunch, but a direct hit by Shreyas Iyer had the left-hander run out on 11 while eyeing a quick single.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes (36) and the left-handed Hartley (also 36) put on a stubborn stand of 55 but Bumrah, named player of the match, broke through to get Foakes caught and bowled. The Three Lions nevertheless stuck to their fearless style, which has got them 14 wins in 20 matches under coach Brendon McCullum, nicknamed "Baz", and Stokes.

Bumrah played a key role with his six wickets in England's first-innings total of 253 as the tourists conceded a crucial lead of 143 in the IND vs ENG 2nd Test.

Veteran England pace bowler James Anderson finished with a match haul of five wickets to take his tally to 695 in a glittering Test career, which began in 2003. The third Test starts February 15 in Rajkot and the teams will take a break beforehand, with England expected to fly to the United Arab Emirates for the week.

(With agency inputs)