Prasidh Krishna or Gurnoor Brar: Who'll share new ball with Siraj? Gill drops hint on 'tough call'

India's Shubman Gill has hinted that Prasidh Krishna is likely to partner Mohammed Siraj with the new ball in the upcoming first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins on Saturday. Yet, Gill acknowledged that selecting between Prasidh and uncapped pacer Gurnoor Brar is a challenging decision.

India is projected to field three orthodox left-arm spinners - Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Among the four pacers in the squad, Siraj is the sole confirmed participant, leaving Gill to choose between 6-foot-5-inch Brar and Prasidh. While Brar excels against the traditional ball due to his ability to generate bounce at a fast pace, Prasidh Krishna has been performing well recently, as evidenced in the warm-up match.

Gill's absence due to a knee injury presents an opportunity for either pacers to prove their worth. Jasprit Bumrah is absent, so the contest for a spot is on. Gill emphasized that the primary focus should be on understanding the pace of the game.

Devdutt Padikkal, a left-hander, is set to bat at No. 3 in place of Sai Sudharsan, while Dhruv Jurel might retain his spot in the middle order despite his recent batting performances. Gill also debunked rumors of communication gaps between the team management and the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, stating that there is consistent communication.

However, he expressed disappointment that Sai Sudharsan did not improve to their expectations and that they cannot afford risks in Tests. Despite this, Gill remains confident in his 15 players.

Gill, who has been the Test captain for a year, acknowledged that he is becoming more at ease in his role. He also highlighted India's ambition to remain competitive for a berth in the World Test Championship final. With only six or seven wins required for that goal, Gill sees the first Test as an opportunity to start the campaign.

Leading India in the 600th Test of the format, which began in 1932, holds special significance for Gill, who signed off by expressing his pride in leading his country on Independence Day.