GILL FIT TO PLAY SECOND TEST AGAINST KIWIS AT PUNE: RYAN

Pant to keep wickets for 2nd Test, says India's Assistant Coach

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Ahead of the second Test against New Zealand at Pune, Indian team assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that batter Shubman Gill is fit enough to feature in the game.

Gill missed the first Test against the Kiwis at Bengaluru due to neck stiffness. His presence was missed as star batter Virat Kohli could not deliver runs at number three in the first innings and India lost the match by eight wickets, marking their first loss to Kiwis on home soil since 1988.

Speaking about Gill during the pre-match presser, Ryan said, "He looks so (available for the next game). He has a slight discomfort. He batted for a long in Bengaluru in the nets session. I think he will be fine for this Test." Ryan said that the move to bring spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar to the squad for second and third Tests was not a "desperate measure", rather the team needs bowlers to turn away the ball from left-handers, with Kiwis having three frontline left-handed batters in skipper Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.