Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli shine in Day 2 of match simulation in Perth ahead of BGT 2024

Team India had a fruitful day on the 2nd day of the ongoing intra-squad simulation match in Perth ahead of the first Test match against Australia. There were several players who did well in the game, but Ruturaj Gaikwad stood out from everyone. He isn't included in the squad but hasn't stopped giving his best and showing the selectors that he deserved this chance.

A few rumours are circulating that Gaikwad might get into the playing XI in the 1st Test in the absence of Rohit Sharma. He had a nice outing on day two as he went on to smash Harshit Rana and Ravichandran Ashwin. He batted for around an hour or so. He played some really good shots off the bowlers, hitting boundaries and sixes, making a stronger case as contention in front of the selectors. 

KL Rahul and Shubman Gill have suffered from injuries, which is a big blow for the team. Management hasn't ruled them out yet, but there is a high chance of this because Gill got a finger injury, and it didn't look good. So, reports suggest that Gaikwad might come in handy as Abhimanyu Easwaran wasn't that great in the match. However, as per a report by Cricbuzz, all the players are supposed to come back to India on November 18. 

Everything feels confusing since the management has chosen to keep calm and let the rumours run around without any official confirmation or solid proof. Also, Gaikwad can't get into the team because he isn't a part of the squad. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, was pretty good during the fielding session as he claimed two catches in the slips. His fitness level is just increasing with time, becoming a positive news for the management and the fans. 

Mohammed Shami to return to team India ahead of BGT 2024?

India's lethal pace bowler Mohammed Shami has made a solid comeback into cricket after missing the game for almost a year due to his injury. Shami set foot in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, claiming four wickets in the first innings and three in the second. It is a dream return for him and an answer to the question of whether Shami is fit for BGT or not. 

Well, the Board can't do much to get Shami back on the team until someone gets injured, thus letting him get a way into the team. While only the batters are getting injured, Shami will have to wait a little longer for his time to come to make his return to Test cricket once again.