India not ruling out Gill playing in series opener

India will give Shubman Gill every chance to prove his fitness to start the opening Test against Australia at Perth Stadium with the batsman showing improvement after fracturing his left thumb, bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Wednesday.

Gill, 25, sustained the injury while fielding at slip last week as India were gearing up for the match, which starts on Friday, with squad sessions instead of a tour game against a local side.

"Shubman is improving every day. Obviously he picked up a nasty blow in that intra-squad warm-up game. I think with him it's going to be a day-to-day process," Morkel told reporters.

"Fingers crossed for that improvement. We'll wait to take a call on him up until the morning of the Test match."

With skipper Rohit Sharma set to miss the match following the birth of his second child, Gill's absence could heap more pressure on India's less experienced batsmen on fiery Australian pitches but Morkel backed them to rise to the occasion.

"It's going to be great learning for these young guys, who can front up against a quality test bowling attack. Australia aren't going to bowl you many bad balls," Morkel said.

"But in saying that there's good leadership within the group that can help and settle the nerves with that. As a group, we're all excited for the challenge."

Seamer Mohammed Shami is not part of the squad for the five-match series having only returned to action this month after suffering an ankle injury at last year's 50-overs World Cup and a knee issue during his recovery.

The 34-year-old claimed seven wickets in a domestic match last week but will not be rushed back to national duty.

"We're definitely keeping a close eye on Shami. He's a world class bowler," Morkel said.

"We need to understand he's been out of the game for almost a year. We have to respect him and his body. It's a massive win that he's back playing and picking up wickets."

India head into a hotly anticipated five-Test showdown wounded by their first home series loss in 12 years and with a point to prove.

But questions also surround the hosts, who have been casting around trying to find a successor to fill the considerable shoes of retired opener David Warner.

India's embarrassing 3-0 defeat to New Zealand last month was marked by repeated batting collapses, with mainstays Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma a shadow of their former selves.

With ageing spin king Ravichandran Ashwin and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also under pressure, the series against Pat Cummins' men is a chance to prove the doubters wrong -- or will add fuel to claims this India side is past its sell-by date.

Australian legend Ricky Ponting stirred the pot last week by questioning whether Kohli and Rohit should still be selected after both averaged just 15 against New Zealand.

That prompted a biting response from India coach Gautam Gambhir, who staunchly defended them and asked: "What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket?

"More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit," he added, calling them "incredibly tough men".

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