Shubman Gill, an opener, is expected to be included in Team India’s playing XI for the 2023 World Cup match against Pakistan, according to former India chairman of selectors MSK Prasad. Gill, according to Prasad, has recovered from his illness, and any speculation about how bad it was was simply “rumors” at this point.
Shubman Gill did not play in India’s opening two World Cup games against Australia and Afghanistan. Even a brief medical stay for him in Chennai. The 24-year-old was observed hitting the nets on Thursday after traveling to Ahmedabad, where India will play Pakistan on Saturday, October 14. According to the report, the cricket player practiced his fielding and batting techniques for an hour in the nets.
In an interview with hindustantimes, Prasad stated that Shubman Gill has recovered from his sickness and would participate in the World Cup match against Pakistan. He added:
“I think we can put an end to all kinds of speculations. Shubman Gill will definitely play this game (vs Pakistan). He’s too good a player to miss out. He had just a fever. He has recovered. It was not threatening at all that we would even think about replacements. It’s all rumors that are coming out (about the seriousness of the illness) in whatever form that you are hearing.”
MSK Prasad
According to the former keeper-batter, the youngster did not travel to Delhi for the match against Afghanistan as a precaution.
“What we heard was that as a matter of precaution, he couldn’t play the second game otherwise he was fine. He stayed back for one more day in Chennai as a precaution. He recovered well, and was discharged,” the former cricketer added.
MSK Prasad
Ishan Kishan began the innings with Rohit Sharma in India’s first two World Cup matches in Gill’s absence. In the game against Australia in Chennai, the left-handed batsman was taken out for a golden duck.
Although he did not appear as fluent against Afghanistan in Delhi, Kishan performed significantly better, striking a run-a-ball 47 and combining 156 for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (131 off 84 balls).
Shubman Gill’s impressive performances in Ahmedabad
Although Gill has yet to play a one-day match at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, he has performed well there in other forms. In March of this year, the exquisite right-handed batsman scored 128 against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In the third T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand in February 2023, the opener hit 126* off 63 balls. The spectacular knock included 12 fours and seven sixes.
