India's World Cup Squad Announced, Shubman Gill Ruled Out Of India's XI

Shubman Gill’s form just a few weeks away from the World Cup must have been a huge matter of concern for Team India. While the youngster was in stunning form in the first half of the year, his performance has been really disappointing ever since he left India after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League.

Shubman Gill was India’s best performer with the bat during the home season as he scored runs for fun. He was also the highest run-scorer in this year’s IPL but has been performing really poorly since then. In 11 innings across formats since June, the opening batsman has managed to cross the 50-run mark just once.

He scored 13 and 18 in the World Test Championship final against Australia before registering scores of 6, 10, and 29* in three Test innings against West Indies. In the three-match ODI series, he scored 7, 34, and 85. And his form in the ongoing T20I series is not promising either. In three games so far, Shubman Gill has scored 3, 7, and 6.

Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill’s form:

With Shubman Gill’s consistently failing to perform, there have been calls to replace the opener ahead of the all-important World Cup. However, former India batsman Aakash Chopra believes dropping the youngster is not an option for Team India anymore.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked whether Shubman Gill’s World Cup place will be in doubt if he continues to underperform with the bat. In reply, the former cricketer-turned-commentator said: “God forbid, if he doesn’t score runs, it will be a slight problem for sure. You are not going to drop him from the World Cup team.

“The World Cup starts on October 5 and you will have to announce your team by September 5, you need to do it a month before, and you might have to announce your final squad by the 15th, there has to be a deadline.

“So he is going to be a part of the Asia Cup team. If he doesn’t score runs and the form continues to be bad, you will play him in the Australia ODIs and try your best that Shubman Gill is definitely there in the 15 if not the XI,” he added.

Speaking further, Chopra opined that Gill’s poor form will not last long as the playing conditions in the 50-over format will make it easier for him to regain his form.

“I am almost convinced that Shubman Gill’s form is not going to remain like this, it will improve. It is the best format for the top-order batters because you get to bat the entire 50 overs.

“The ball doesn’t swing even half an inch, there is no chance at all of that happening after the first two overs and you have a lot of time. So if you have the temperament to play long innings, which almost all top-order batters have and that is why they get that place, runs are scored,” he said.