Former Indian cricketer MSK Prasad suggests that the young batter should play in the match against Pakistan in the World Cup clash.
Will Shubman Gill play India vs Pakistan Game
India is scheduled to play in the 12th ICC World Cup 2023 match against their arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14 at Narendra Modi Stadium. Having victories in their first and second World Cup matches against Australia and Afghanistan, India will be facing Pakistan with boosted confidence in the tournament.
The match has huge expectations among fans and the 1,32,000-capacity stadium is expected to be full.
On this occasion, the former cricketer MSK Prasad says that the young batter Shubman Gill who was diagnosed with dengue last week will be playing in the match against Pakistan. He was sidelined in the match against Afghanistan as a precaution.
Shubman Gill had an intense practice session with the rest of the Indian cricketers on Friday. If he is fit enough, there is no reason for him to be waiting for his World Cup debut on Saturday.
“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.”
“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.”
“See if someone is playing for 1 bour 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,” he added.
Although Ishan Kishan backed up Shubman Gill in the top order, he couldn’t fill the solidity of Gill. Shubman Gill has an impressive average with two centuries in the stadium as he played three tests and a T20I match
“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. In the first couple of games, especially against Afghanistan, we didn’t require him.
The others did the job but now if we look at Pakistan, they are also coming on the back of two wins. It would be very good if we go in with the best possible XI.
Ishan of course has done reasonably well in the second game but when a person like Shubman Gill is there, you have one more match-winner to the XI. This is not a T20 game where he needs to go slam-bang. He can take his time, get set, occupy the crease, and then see how it goes. Ideally, I would want him in the XI,” he concluded.
England Captain Nasser Hussain cautions Indian team management have to consider the heat and humidity factors before making him play in the match.
“I think you have to look at the bigger picture. Look after the lad. It’s a big game so if he says he is okay, then he’s got to play but India will have to be careful about the heat and humidity factors,” said Naseer Hussain.
