Will injured Shubman Gill be fit in time for second phase of IPL 2021 with KKR?
| Photo Credit: AP  Key Highlights Shubman Gill sustained a serious injury during a fitness training session Gill is expected to be out of action for at least 8 weeks His participation in the second phase of IPL 2021, at the moment  Away tours are more special for cricketers, especially youngsters as they look to impress the team management and cement a place for themselves in the team. India's Shubman Gill, however, suffered a serious injury that could see him miss the entire 5-match Test series against England. Questions over his availability for the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign have also been raised. Though the exact nature of Gill's injury remains unclear, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team is said to have predicted a minimum of 8-week absence for the opening batsman. Gill looked fit and determined to do well in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand. He even took a spectacular diving catch of Ross Taylor in the first innings. The incident, however, isn't believed to have resulted into the injury. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, Gill seems to have gotten himself injured during a fitness training session. With a minimum of 8 weeks required for Gill to heel. He is set to be out of at least the first three Tests against England. Depending upon the speed of his recovery, Gill could feature in the fourth and the 5th Test against England, starting September 02. The England tour will conclude on September 14 post which the Indian cricketers will fly directly to UAE and join their respective franchises for the resumption of the IPL Season 14. Gill, who plays for KKR in the T20 league, is expected to have fully recovered before the second phase of IPL 2021 starts. Despite the extent of the injury, the BCCI decided against sending Shubman home and the plan is to get himself treated in England itself. While there's no denying that the Indian cricketing fraternity would be hoping for his swift return to action, regaining match fitness quickly after such a long injury absence is going to be tricky. Among the players which can replace Gill, the names of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari have come out top. While KL Rahul is also an opening batsman, it has been reported that the team management is looking to deploy him in the middle-order. The Indian cricket team is presently on a 20-day break in London.