MSK Prasad predicts Shubman Gill will be in the playing XI against Pakistan

Former India chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said that star India opener Shubman Gill will be a part of Team India’s playing XI for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Prasad also added that Gill has recovered from his illness and the talks over the seriousness of his sickness are just “rumours” as well.

However, Gill missed India’s first two World Cup matches against Australia and Afghanistan as he was even briefly hospitalized in Chennai. Having arrived in Ahmedabad, where India will face Pakistan on Saturday, the youngster was seen practising in the nets on Thursday. As per reports, he has batted for an hour in the nets and also did some fielding drills as well.

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In an interaction with hindustantimes.com, Prasad added that Shubman Gill has recovered from his illness and hewill play the World Cup match against Pakistan.

“I think we can put an end to all kinds of speculations. Shubman Gill will definitely play this game (vs Pakistan). He’s too good a player to miss out. He had just a fever. He has recovered. It was not threatening at all that we would even think about replacements. It’s all rumors that are coming out (about the seriousness of the illness) in whatever form that you are hearing,” he said.

The former keeper-batter has also added that Gill did not travel to Delhi for the match against Afghanistan as a precautionary measure as well. In Gill’s absence, Ishan Kishan opened the innings with Rohit Sharma in India’s first two World Cup matches where he was dismissed for a golden duck in the game against Australia in Chennai.

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But he did well against Afghanistan in Delhi, scoring a run-a-ball 47 and adding 156 for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (131 off 84 balls) as well.

“What we heard was that as a matter of precaution, he couldn’t play the second game otherwise he was fine. He stayed back for one more day in Chennai as a precaution. He recovered well, and was discharged,” Prasad concluded.