World Cup 2023: Shubman Gill is 99 percent available for Pakistan match, says Rohit Sharma

India captain Rohit Sharma, in a pre-match press conference, confirmed that young opener Shubman Gill was 99 percent available for the big-ticket World Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan on October 14.

Gill could be on the cusp of making his ODI World Cup debut for India, having recovered from dengue. Gill was diagnosed with dengue fever, which caused him to miss India’s first two World Cup matches, which they won against Australia and Afghanistan. Ishan Kishan took his place alongside captain Rohit Sharma as India’s second opening batter.

Gill did not travel to Delhi with the India squad for Tuesday’s match against Afghanistan. He did, however, fly directly to Ahmedabad to meet up with his teammates.

Gill was expected to attend another full-fledged practise session with the rest of the Indian cricketers, after which the team management is expected to make a decision on Gill’s inclusion in the team, which will be his first match in World Cup 2023.

GILL WINS PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD

Gill’s return to the side will be a huge boost for Team India, given his form this year. Having already won the Player of the Month award for January, Gill beat his compatriot Mohammed Siraj and England opener Dawid Malan to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for the second time in the year.

Gill was named as the Player of the Month in September 2023 for his exploits in India’s Asia Cup triumph and their ODI series win against Australia. Shubman Gill also became the first Indian cricketer to win the ICC Player of the Award more than once.

Gill could become the fastest batter to score 2000 runs in ODI cricket if he continues his brilliant form in the 2023 World Cup. The right-handed batter has scored 1917 runs in 35 innings, and is eyeing South African great Hashim Amla’s record for the fastest to 2000 runs in ODIs (40 innings).

While the 24-year-old has fared well wherever he’s played, he has looked particularly comfortable in home conditions, scoring 882 runs in 14 innings in India, at an average of 67.84. He will also be looking forward to playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the home ground of his IPL side Gujarat Titans.

Legendary India all-rounder and the hero of India’s World Cup winning campaign in 2011, Yuvraj Singh, said he is hoping Gill will be fit for the Pakistan clash as overcoming dengue and fever is a tough task.

“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. 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,” said Yuvraj.

It’s been a year to remember for Gill, having amassed 1230 runs in 20 matches, at an incredible average of 72.35. He has scored five fifties and five centuries, including his first ODI double century against New Zealand very early in the year.