WATCH: Team India arrives for practice at Optus Stadium sans Shubman Gill | Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Australia vs India | Perth Test | Cricket News

Australia vs India: The Indian team bus arrived at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Tuesday morning, but Shubman Gill was not present.

AUS vs IND: Indian cricket team has arrived at the Optus Stadium in Perth. (Image credit: X)

New Delhi: Team India arrived at the Optus Stadium, the venue for the first Test in Perth, for practice ahead of the series opener, starting Friday, November 22. The Men in Blue have been practising at the WACA since last week and now two days before the start of the opening Test, they have shifted base to the match venue.

The Indian team bus, filled with cricketers and support staff, arrived at the Optus Stadium on Tuesday morning, but Shubman Gill was not present.

The star batter injured his thumb during the three-day match simulation of the Indian cricket team. While there is no confirmation about his unavailability for the series opener, his absence from the team bus gives a clear picture of his current status.

WATCH: TEAM INDIA ARRIVES AT OPTUS STADIUM

India arrive for practice at the Optus Stadium

No Gill with the team bus ❌ pic.twitter.com/fKCdyLGP2p

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 19, 2024

Another massive blow for India

Gill’s absence is another massive blow for the visitors, who will be without their skipper Rohit Sharma in the Perth Test. The Indian captain hasn’t travelled with the squad due to the birth of his second child. Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh welcomed a baby boy on Friday and while reports of Rohit’s departure to Australia were rife, later it was confirmed that he won’t be travelling to Australia to join the squad.

The Indian cricket team will be looking to continue their dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Asian giants have won the last four BGT series – two at home and two away – but face a tall order against a much stronger Australian side. The five-match Test series is part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 (cycle) and one of Australia and India, the top two sides in the table, will qualify for the final next year.

Australia have a better chance of sealing the spot in the summit clash than the Indians, who are coming on the back of a 0-3 home humiliation against New Zealand.

Awestruck and inspired by sports since childhood, I was fortunate enough to earn a living by joining the sports media industry in 2007. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride ever since. Just like a Bollywood movie, my professional journey, which began 15 years ago, is filled with both happy and sad moments all along with unexpected twists. A cricket buff and football fanatic, I am one of those who love an underdog story. I have had working stints with some of the most prominent media organisations in the country including Zee Sports, Ten Sports, ESPN, NDTV.

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