Why is Shubman Gill not playing today's 1st India vs New Zealand 2024 Test?

Indian batter Shubman Gill is not part of the playing 11 for the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He was reported to be suffering from neck and shoulder pain on the eve of the Test on Tuesday, October 15.

According to India Today, he told the team management about the discomfort in the lead-up to the game. India got an extra day to make a call on his fitness as Day 1 of the Test on Wednesday, October 16, was washed out. But skipper Rohit Sharma counted him among the two changes at the toss on Thursday, October 17.

It's a sizeable blow on both the team and the player as this break has come at a time when Gill was building form and momentum in Tests after initially struggling to manage the No. 3 position. He has two centuries and as many fifties in his last four matches (two each against England and Bangladesh).

India would have loved for him to continue and get some more runs under his belt ahead of the Test tour of Australia next month. The hosts would hope he's fit to play the second and third Tests which will begin on October 24 and November 1, respectively.

Who has replaced Shubman Gill in India's playing 11?

Gill's absence has come as an opportunity for Sarfaraz Khan. The Mumbai middle-order batter returned to the playing 11 for the first time since the last Test against England earlier this year.

Sarfaraz scored three fifties in his maiden three Tests and has continued the form of his life on the domestic circuit. Even for this Test, he's coming off a double-hundred in the recent high-octane Irani Cup tie in Lucknow.

However, it would be interesting to see how India line up their batting. Sarfaraz might slot straight into No. 3 but there's also the option of promoting KL Rahul and keeping the former for his more natural spot of No. 5.