Shubman Gill in action for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024© AFP
Shubman Gill has been a top performer for the Indian cricket team in the past couple of years but his inclusion for the T20 World Cup 2024 is not guaranteed due to his batting position and the intense competition for spots at the top half of the batting order. Gill’s direct competitors for the opening as well as the No. 3 spot include the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul – a cricketer who also provides a proper wicket-keeping option to the team management. Gill proved his mettle on Thursday with a 48-ball-89 for Gujarat Titans but former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull had his own share of doubts.
“Not yet. No, no, no,” he said on Cricbuzzwhen asked if Gill guaranteed his spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad thanks to his brilliant knock against Punjab Kings.
“He’s got a, you know, I mean, that spot up the top when you take in a World Cup 15. It should be 18 in my opinion. But when you’re taking that side and you’re picking it, you really only carry one extra top-order batter. You’ve probably only room for one top-order replacement batter if it happens to be someone like KL Rahul, who can keep wickets for you. And that is a real bonus. That top-order replacement batter, he keeps, Shubman doesn’t keep. And if he can’t make the side ahead of Jaiswal, Rohit and Virat at the moment, he probably doesn’t go,” he explained.
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill’s unblemished unbeaten half-century was overshadowed by uncapped 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 this season so far, and in the process hit six fours and four maximums to guide GT to an imposing 199 for four. He was also helped generously by B Sai Sudharsan‘s 19-ball 33 and Rahul Tewatia‘s eight-ball unbeaten 23.
But there was a heartbreak in store for GT as Shashank played the knock of his life, remaining unbeaten on 61 off 29 balls during which he hit 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 raise PBKS’ hopes, which eventually came true.
(With PTI inputs)
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