India’s preparations for the September 14 encounter against Pakistan suffered a brief jolt when Shubman Gill injured his hand during a training session in Dubai. The right-handed opener, unbeaten on 20 in the previous match against UAE, appeared uncomfortable after taking a blow while facing throwdowns. The team physio rushed to his side as Gill left the nets holding his left hand and sat on the icebox. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir were seen in discussion with Gill soon after the incident. Opening partner Abhishek Sharma helped him with a water bottle while the medical staff checked his condition. Within minutes, Gill returned to the nets, raising hopes of his availability for the crucial game at Dubai International Stadium, scheduled for 8:00 PM IST on Sunday. Read also: WATCH: Shubman Gill Opens Up on Toughest Bowler and Cheat Meals Samson Likely Replacement if Gill Misses Out If Gill fails to regain full fitness, Sanju Samson is expected to open the innings. Samson, who featured in the XI against UAE but did not get to bat, struck three T20I centuries last year as an opener. He is also the preferred wicketkeeper-batter in the format. On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh’s omission in the last game surprised many despite his tally of 99 wickets in 63 T20Is. In his absence, Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav produced match-winning spells, picking seven wickets between them. Sources suggest the team management may stick with the same bowling combination for the Pakistan clash unless last-minute fitness concerns force changes. India currently tops the Asia Cup points table, and a win on Sunday would virtually confirm their spot in the knockout stage.