Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is confident that opener Shubman Gill would be able to play in Saturday’s high-octane 2023 World Cup match against Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Yuvraj claimed that he attempted to motivate Gill by telling him that he competed in the 2011 World Cup while facing cancer.
Yuvraj Singh is Gill’s mentor and has been instrumental in his climb to worldwide prominence. Due to sickness, he missed India’s first two World Cup matches against Australia and Afghanistan. Although he is in Ahmedabad, where India will play archrivals Pakistan on Saturday, his participation remains doubtful.
Yuvraj revealed to ANI that he told Gill about his experience playing cricket while dealing cancer in 2011.
“Shubham Gill ko maine tagda kar diya hai [I have strengthened Shubham Gill]. I told him that I had played in the World Cup while battling cancer, so I got ready quickly to join the team. Hopefully, he will be ready for the India vs Pakistan game,
” he said.When you have a fever and dengue, it is really tough to play a cricket match, and I have experienced that. So I hope that if he is fit, then he will definitely play,”
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj was the Most Valuable Player when India lifted the World Cup in 2011, scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets (using his left arm to spin the ball).
Yuvraj Singh’s prediction for India-Pakistan clash
Whether or not Gill is available for Saturday’s World Cup match, there is plenty of excitement around one of sports’ most heated rivalries.
When asked about the next Indo-Pak match, Yuvraj stated that he expects a thriller because both sides are in top shape.
“India is already confident because they have beaten Australia and Afghanistan. It was a brilliant hundred from Rohit Sharma. I think at the moment both teams are high on confidence, and it should be a cracker of a game. Mohammad Rizwan is in great form. Both teams have outstanding games. Especially for Pakistan, they chased 300-plus runs against Sri Lanka, so it will give them a lot of confidence,” the former cricketer concluded.
Yuvraj Singh
In their first two 2023 World Cup games, India defeated Australia by six wickets and Afghanistan by eight wickets. Pakistan started their campaign with an 81-run victory against the Netherlands before chasing 345 against Sri Lanka.