Shubman Gill Confirmed for India-Pakistan Match: Speculation Ends
According to former India chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, there should be no doubt about Shubman Gill's inclusion in the Indian team to face Pakistan, provided he is fit. Gill's rapid recovery following his recent illness has put him in contention for a spot in India's playing XI for the World Cup 2023 match against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Until Tuesday, it seemed unlikely that Shubman Gill would be available for the Pakistan match, as he had just been discharged from the hospital the night before. However, the situation took a positive turn on Wednesday, as Gill made a swift journey from Chennai to Ahmedabad and was on the field for a practice session on Thursday, his first in over a week.
In a video aired by Star Sports, Gill appeared in high spirits as he headed to the practice nets at around 11:30 in the morning. Accompanied by Team India physio Kamlesh and throwdown specialist Nuwan Seneviratne, Gill spent nearly an hour batting in the Motera nets.
He faced local net bowlers and took throwdowns since no other Indian team member was available for practice. Most importantly, he showed no signs of discomfort during the session and even worked on his fielding skills by taking catches.
With over 24 hours left before the Pakistan match, Gill is set to have another full-fledged practice session with the rest of the Indian squad on Friday evening. If he performs well in this session, there's no reason to doubt his participation in his World Cup debut on Saturday.
This development also implies that the Indian team management has ruled out the need for Ruturaj Gaikwad or Yashasvi Jaiswal as backup options.
In the words of MSK Prasad, “I think we can put an end to all kinds of speculations. Shubman Gill will definitely play this game against Pakistan. He's too talented to be left out. His illness was merely a fever, and he has fully recovered.
There was no need to consider replacements; these rumors are baseless. What we heard was that, as a precaution, he couldn't play the second game. But he is fine now. This is a crucial game against Pakistan, and if he's fit, which I'm sure he is, he should be in India's playing XI.”
If Gill takes the field against Pakistan, it will be a significant advantage for India for two reasons. While Ishan Kishan is a capable top-order batsman, he doesn't offer the same stability as Gill. Furthermore, Gill has an exceptional track record at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Although he has not played an ODI at this venue, his average of 93 in the four matches (three Tests and a T20I) he has played here, along with two centuries, speaks volumes.
To add to this, Motera is Gill's IPL home ground as he represented the Gujarat Titans and scored a plethora of runs here in the last edition of the tournament.
MSK Prasad further says, “This is the ground where he has played his franchise cricket, and he understands every aspect of it. With his impressive record at this ground and his performance over the past year, he should definitely be in the XI. In the initial games, particularly against Afghanistan, we didn't need him. Others delivered, but now, facing Pakistan, who are also coming off two wins, it would be wise to field the best possible XI. Ishan has performed reasonably well in the second game, but having Shubman Gill in the lineup adds another match-winner to the XI. This isn't a T20 game; he can take his time, settle in, and make an impact. Ideally, I would like to see him in the XI.”
However, former England captain Nasser Hussain urged caution, considering the length of the tournament. “We have to consider the bigger picture and take care of the player's well-being. It's a crucial game, so if he confirms he's okay, he should play. But India needs to be mindful of the heat and humidity factors,” he noted.
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