Shubman Gill, Team India’s opening batter, was forced to walk off the pitch during the current semi-final match versus New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium due to cramping. When the dreaded Mumbai heat and humidity caught up with Gill, he was undefeated on 79 runs off 65 deliveries.
After completing a single in the 23rd inning, the right-handed hitter dropped to the ground. The physios rushed out right away to help him, but it was finally deemed that he couldn’t go on and had to be retired injured, with Shreyas Iyer stepping in to bat.
To clarify, Shubman Gill has not been ruled out and can return to the crease and finish his innings if Team India loses a wicket or another batter retires injured during the continuing innings.
Gill’s present situation is governed by Clause 25.4.2 of the Men’s 2023 Cricket World Cup Playing Conditions. According to the rule:
“If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – not out’.”
Clause 25.4.1, which comes before the aforementioned rule, states:
“A batter may retire at any time during his innings when the ball is dead. The umpires, before allowing play to proceed, shall be informed of the reason for a batter retiring.”
The clause 25.4.4 further states:
“If after retiring a batter resumes his innings, subject to the requirements of clauses 25.4.2 and 25.4.3, it shall be only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter.”
If the hitter had walked off the field and stopped his inning for reasons other than injury, he would have needed permission from opposition captain Kane Williamson to restart his inning. The following is mentioned in clause 25.4.3:
“If a batter retires for any reason other than as in clause 25.4.2, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his innings is not resumed, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – out’.”
Shubman Gill had played a flawless first-innings innings against New Zealand. The opening opener was a superb second fiddle to Rohit Sharma, who demolished the Kiwi new-ball bowlers at Wankhede Stadium.
India’s Batting Fireworks Continue After Shubman Gill’s Setback
Shubman Gill’s sudden injury has had no effect on Team India’s score. When the first hitter exited the field, the Men in Blue were 164-1 in 22.4 overs.
As of this writing, Team India stands at 238 -1 after 33 overs, with Virat Kohli on his way to a historic century, having broken Sachin Tendulkar’s elusive 673-run mark in a single World Cup edition.
Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, has continued where he left off against the Netherlands and has made a strong start.