In a twist of fate, Shubman Gill's untimely illness, a mere two days before India's highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opener against Australia, has put the team's management in fresh trouble.
Gill has been in great form in ODI cricket this year, amassing an impressive 1200-plus runs, and is expected to play a key role in India's quest for World Cup glory. However, the young opener is now likely to be on the sidelines for a while after finding himself in the grip of dengue. Gill’s illness forced Team India to think about his replacement for Sunday's big clash against Australia in Chennai.
Well, the choice is crystal clear and logical in Ishan Kishan, the dynamic left-handed dynamo, holder of the record for the fastest ODI double century, to step in for Gill if the Punjab lad fails to recover in time for India’s opening clash in the Cricket World Cup 2023.
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Reacting to the same, former Australian World Cup winner and captain Aaron Finch said that Team India will badly miss Shubman if he fails to make it to the XI due to his illness, as Ishan cannot offer what Gill brings to the table for the Men in Blue.
Aaron Finch said on Star Sports: “What's going to stand out in this World Cup is the depth of these squads. Most teams are going with an idea what their ideal XI is but that doesn't always go to plan. There are injuries, fatigue as it's a long tournament. Still, India would be pretty comfortable. The difference will be the fear factor Shubman Gill puts into the Australian team.”
Finch continued, “He is someone who Australia at times really struggle to bowl to in any format because he has no weaknesses. He is somebody who can hit your best balls. He dominates spin, left-arm pacer, right-arm pace so I think that will be the only difference. Australia will be a little more comfortable bowling to Ishan Kishan in the Powerplay.”
The cricket expert further said that Australia would open with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood if India opens with the left-hander alongside captain Rohit Sharma, and it would be a great opportunity for his national side to have a great start in Chennai.
Finch signed off by saying, “Starc and Hazlewood. I would go with that selection if I have to bowl to the left-hander. The outswing to Ishan because I still think he has a few technical faults he still hasn't quite ironed out over the last while. His front foot closes up quite a bit so if he can swing it early, they can get him. Once he gets in, he moves beautifully. But just those initial balls though, he tends to get vulnerable.”
