Shubman Gill struck on elbow during nets ahead of first ODI against West Indies

Shubman Gill suffered an injury scare during Friday's practice session ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies after a delivery from Mohammed Siraj struck him on the elbow. The incident occurred at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram during nets. Gill was hit on the right elbow and required treatment, including bandaging.

Gill appeared to be in considerable pain and needed nearly 20 minutes of medical attention before returning to nets for throwdowns. An official update on the seriousness of the injury is awaited. There is no confirmation yet that Gill will miss the opening ODI, which is scheduled for September 27.

India are preparing for the three-match ODI series against West Indies. Gill captains the squad with Ravindra Jadeja as vice-captain. Bowling coach Morne Morkel has praised the captain's leadership during the preparation phase.

"I must say that Shubman has done an exceptional job so far leading the team. But I'm always a big believer in your senior players and how they shape the team. I think different players in the team will feel more comfortable speaking to a certain senior individual," Morkel was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

Bowling coach praises Gill's leadership

Morkel emphasised the team management's focus on creating opportunities for younger squad members to interact with senior players. The coaching staff believes this integration is crucial for squad development ahead of the series.

"Morkel said the team management is particular about creating opportunities for the younger members of the squad to speak to senior players. But the challenge is sometimes to ask a younger guy, while batting in the nets, to speak to Rohit about what is important when facing the new ball," he added.

West Indies arrive amid financial restructuring

The West Indies squad arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on September 23 but had not yet begun training as of Friday. The visiting team faces administrative challenges at home, with the Cricket West Indies (CWI) announcing significant financial restructuring measures.

The second and third ODIs will be played in Guwahati and New Chandigarh on September 30 and October 3, respectively.