The Indian team management is likely to continue the waiting game when it comes to Shubman Gill and no replacement is being sought or even discussed at this stage. It is understood that the management considers Gill to be a “vital cog” in the set-up and will wait for the 24-year-old to regain match fitness.
“Shubman Gill will be given all the time to recover and regain match fitness. There is no thought of seeking or discussing replacements at this stage as the management considers him to be a vital cog in the set-up. Gill is already showing positive signs and is likely to make a return soon,” a senior BCCI official told News18 CricketNext.
Team India is likely to follow the approach that Australia has for Travis Head. The Aussies still have Head, who is recovering from a fractured hand, in the World Cup squad and expect him to feature at some stage in the tournament.
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“Look at what Australia are doing with Travis Head. He is injured but they haven’t ruled him out or sought a replacement. Every chance right now is given to Head to make that return. India too are likely to follow a similar approach when it comes to Gill. He has been our one of the most consistent performers in the last year or so,” added the official.
Finally, an update on Gill from Team India camp
At the pre-match press conference in Delhi today, India batting coach Vikram Rathour provided an update on Gill and sounded optimistic on his return. As CricketNext had reported this morning, Gill was hospitalised in Chennai as a precaution but is back in the hotel and recovering well. This was the first team any member of the Indian camp spoke on Gill’s sickness with some details.
“He is recovering well. He was hospitalised, yes, but that was more as a precaution. He is back in the hotel; he is recovering well. So, being monitored by the medical team and whatever update we get, we are hoping that he will recover pretty soon. He is looking good actually,” says Rathour.
The coach further added, “hopefully Gill will be back in the mix pretty soon”.
Gill missed the 2023 World Cup fixture against Australia and is missing tomorrow’s game vs Afghanistan too. While the opener is showing positive signs and responding well to the treatment, it is unlikely that he will feature in the next game vs Pakistan too.
There is just a two-day gap between the game vs Afghanistan and the high-profile India-Pakistan clash, and the management wouldn’t want to rush the youngster in what is a long World Cup.
In Gill’s absence, Ishan Kishan is going to play the role of the opener. It is not an unusual position for the aggressive left-hander as he has played most of his cricket at that position. The outing against Australia wasn’t an ideal one as he was dismissed for a golden duck but the batting coach is backing the youngster to come good vs Afghanistan.
“He has opened in the past and he has played as an opener. So, no specific discussion on that. He understands the moment. That was the reason he has been in the team. We knew that he can bat top of the order or in the middle order. So, he has done that before. So, no specific discussion on that. Just hoping that he comes good tomorrow,” Rathour said on Kishan.
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