'Shubman Gill Will Definitely Play': Former India Selector Claims Opener Will Take the Field for IND-PAK World Cup Match

While we continue to await an official word on Shubman Gill’s availability for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan contest at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, a former selector reckons that the opening batter will ‘definitely’ be part of the fixture in Ahmedabad.

Gill is recovering from dengue which saw him miss India’s opening two matches of the world cup that saw them beat Australia and Afghanistan. Ishan Kishan has opened in his place alongside captain Rohit Sharma.

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There has been a positive news from Ahmedabad though with Gill training on Thursday. However, speculations over his inclusion for the match is still anybody’s guess.

MSK Prasad, the former BCCI chief of selectors, says Gill’s quality means it’s unlikely that India will exclude him for the Pakistan match and that he’s recovered.

“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,” Prasad was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“It was not threatening at all that we would even think about replacements. It’s all rumours that are coming out (about the seriousness of the illness) in whatever form that you are hearing,” he added.

Gill didn’t travel to Delhi with the India squad for the Afghanistan match which was played on Tuesday. However, he flew directly to Ahmedabad to link up with his team-mates.

“What we heard was that as a matter of precaution, he (Gill) 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. See if someone is playing for 1 hour that means he has recovered. This is an all-important game against Pakistan. If he is fit, which I’m sure he is, then he should be in India’s playing XI,” Prasad said.

Prasad pointed out Gill’s terrific record at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as a big reason why the youngster should be part of India’s playing XI.

“This is the ground where he has played his franchise cricket. He understands every blade of grass about this ground. He knows how to get runs here. With the kind of record he has at this ground and the kind of record he had in the last 1 year, he should definitely play,” he said.