Always an honour: Shubman Gill elated after maiden Test call-up for India

India vs South Africa Test series: On receiving his maiden call-up to the Test side, Shubman Gill said it has always been an honour for him to represent the country.

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Always an honour: Shubman Gill elated after maiden Test call-up for India
Shubman Gill replaced KL Rahul in India squad for the Test series against South Africa. (IANS Photo)

In Short

  • Shubman Gill received his maiden Test call-up to the India side
  • Gill said it has been an honour for him to represent the country
  • Gill replaced KL Rahul in the India Test squad

On the back of an extraordinary series against West Indies A, Shubman Gill received his maiden call-up in the India Test side for the South Africa series. Looking forward to don the white jersey, an elated Shubman Gill took to Twitter to express that it has always been an honour for him to represent the country.

Shubman Gill was overlooked for India tour of West Indies for 3-match T20I series, 3-match ODI series and 2-match Test series. The 20-year-old said he was disappointed with his exclusion as he expected to be there in at least one of the squads.

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However, the young top-order batsman exhibited a fine form for India A against West Indies A with his double hundred in the third four-day game. He was adjuged the man of the series as Gill became the youngest Indian to score a first-class double hundred.

Gill was also seen in a good touch in the South Africa A series where he captained the side and scored a 90 in the first innings.

India chief selector MSK Prasad on Thursday announced India Test squad for 3-match South Africa series starting October 2. KL Rahul, who had a poor time in the 2 Tests in the West Indies was dropped to hand Gill his maiden Test call-up.

Regular ODI opener Rohit Sharma will don the same role in Tests as well, which was confirmed by the chairman of selectors MSK Prasad. Also, fast bowler, Umesh Yadav doesn't find a place in the squad as India have pruned their 16-member squad from the West Indies tour to just 15 players for the upcoming series.

India's first Test against South Africa will start in Visakhapatnam on October 2, while the second and third games will be held in Pune (October 10-14) and Ranchi (October 19-23) respectively.

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