However, it remains uncertain whether the team would take the risk of including the recovering Gill in the high-stakes ‘Battle Royale’.
The 24-year-old had missed the first two games against Australia and Afghanistan, but there’s a strong possibility of him featuring in the starting lineup for the much-anticipated clash against their arch-rivals.
In fact, to facilitate a specialised practice session for Gill before the team’s arrival in Ahmedabad, the Indian team had released their left-arm throwdown expert, Nuwan Seneviratne, a day earlier.
Gill arrived at the Narendra Modi Stadium after 11 am and engaged in some strides and sprints under the careful supervision of team doctor Rizwan in the main arena before moving to the practice nets.
Keeping Shaheen Shah Afridi’s left-arm indippers in mind, Gill focussed on tackling the 150 clicks-plus sidearm thunderbolts from the Sri Lankan specialist.
He also faced the net bowlers during an extended session.
Gill looked comfortable facing both throwdowns as well as the net bowlers.
For someone whose platelet count had dropped to 70000 only a few days ago and was in hospital on Sunday night, Gill’s recovery has been exemplary.
However, it is understood that coach Rahul Dravid and the medical team will have a closer look at his Friday’s session before taking a call.
The idea to train in intense heat was to check how his body responds to a game which starts at 2 pm, whether he would be able to withstand the heat and humidity immediately after a bout of dengue.
(With PTI Inputs)