<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-morne-morkel-hints-at-team-india-fielding-three-spinners-for-galle-clash-23644643" rel="nofollow">Team India</a> is set to clash with Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to be played from August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium near Galle Fort.
Ahead of the match, former Team India cricketer Murali Kartik feels that skipper Shubman Gill's fitness would be crucial for the visitors.
"I'm not worried about <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/gill-must-eye-wtc-high-says-former-star-mohammed-kaif-23644534" rel="nofollow">Shubman Gill</a>'s batting at all, because he's a class act, and he'll find a way to get runs. The most important thing is, you want him to be fit, because he's been plagued by lots of injuries, lots of niggles. He starts a series, and then he misses a few games, and you just don't want that. Even in the warm-up game, he didn't start," he said.
He then said that a sportsperson will never be able to give his 100 per cent if he is struggling with niggles or other injuries.
"As a sportsman, I can say that you want to feel 100% with your body. Otherwise, if you have niggles and some part of you is aching, you're never able to give your 100%. So, from that point of view, I would want him to be fit and hale and hearty," said Kartik.
The former cricketer feels that there is a lot of pressure on Gill as the series against Sri Lanka is crucial for Team India's chances in the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/aakash-chopra-admits-india-is-in-a-tough-position-in-wtc-table-ahead-of-sri-lanka-series-23643173" rel="nofollow">World Test Championship (WTC)</a>.
"From a point of view of a skipper, you're as good as your last game, you're as good as your last series, and with you having that crown on your head. I think heavy is the head which wears the crown, especially in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/odi-world-cup-2027-harbhajan-singh-urges-gautam-gambhir-to-back-rohit-sharma-and-virat-kohli-23644622" rel="nofollow">Indian cricket</a>. So, for that, Shubman Gil will always be questioned, whatever he do, whatever he does, whatever he's gonna do, and the most important thing is, there are so many people who'll dissect his every move, so it's never easy. There's a lot of pressure on him, and there's a lot of pressure on this series as well, because it's crucial for India's chances in the WTC," said the 49-year-old former cricketer.
<h2>IND vs SL 1st Test: Full squads</h2>
India: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Nishan Madushka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Dilshan Madushanka, Keshara Nuwantha.
(With ANI Inputs)

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Ahead of the match, former Team India cricketer Murali Kartik feels that skipper Shubman Gill's fitness would be crucial for the visitors

IND vs SL 1st Test | 'You want him to be fit...': Murali Kartik expresses concern over Shubman Gill's fitness

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Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / IND vs SL 1st Test | 'You want him to be fit...': Murali Kartik expresses concern over Shubman Gill's fitness