Rohit Sharma, during a press conference on the day before the India vs. Pakistan World Cup match in Ahmedabad, stated that Shubman Gill is “99% ready” for the fixture.
India opener Shubman Gill was included in India’s playing XI for the match against arch-rival Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
“Gill is back in place of Ishan Kishan. I feel for Ishan. He has stepped up, but Gill has been a superb player for us,” Rohit Sharma said at the toss.
Unlike the last three ODI matches between India and Pakistan, on Saturday, the Men Blue will bowl first, and for the big match, the Rohit Sharma-led side has made one change in the playing XI.
Star opening batter Shubman Gill is back in the playing XI after missing the first two matches due to dengue fever. The 24-year-old right-handed batter will make his ODI World Cup debut on Saturday against Pakistan at Narendra Modi Stadium and would like to score a big hundred.
The Punjab-born cricketer has already scored a Test, T20I, and IPL century at this venue in 2023. Gill replaced wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan in India’s playing XI. Ishan opened for the Men in Blue in the first two matches against Australia and Afghanistan but failed to make an impact.
Pakistan, on the other hand, have made no changes to the playing XI that took the field against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on October 10.