Shubman Gill in action for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024© AFP
Shubman Gill has been a top performer for the Indian cricket team in recent years, but his participation in the 2024 T20 World Cup is not guaranteed due to his batting position and the fierce competition for spots in the top half of the batting order. Gill’s direct competitors for the opening and number 3 spot include the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul – a cricketer who also provides a good wicketkeeping option to the team management. Gill proved his quality with a 48-ball 89 for Gujarat Titans on Thursday, but former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull had his own doubts.
‘Not yet. No, no, no,” he continued Itchwhen asked if Gill guaranteed his place in the Indian T20 World Cup squad thanks to his brilliant defeat against Punjab Kings.
“He’s got a, you know, I mean, that spot at the top if you’re in a World Cup 15. That should be 18 in my opinion. But if you take that side and go for it, then you really have to have just one extra top-order batsman. You probably only have room for one top-order replacement batsman if it’s someone like KL Rahul, who can keep the wickets for you. And that’s a real bonus. replacement batsman, he keeps, Shubman keeps not. And if he can’t come for Jaiswal, Rohit and Virat at this point, he probably won’t go,” he explained.
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill’s flawless and unbeaten half-century was overshadowed by Shashank Singh’s fiery knock as Punjab Kings registered a thrilling three-wicket win in an Indian Premier League match on Thursday.
Gill made 89 off 48 balls, the highest individual score so far this season, hitting six fours and four maximums to guide GT to an imposing 199 for four. He was also generously helped by B Sai Sudharsan’s 19-ball 33 and Rahul Tewatia’s eight-ball unbeaten 23.
But heartbreak awaited GT as Shashank played the knock of his life and remained unbeaten on 61 off 29 balls, hitting six boundaries and four sixes to guide PBKS home with a ball to spare.
He was ably supported by Ashutosh Sharma (31 off 17) as the duo shared 43 runs off just 22 balls to boost PBKS’s hopes, which eventually came true.
(With PTI inputs)
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