India's batting sensation Shubman Gill played an instrumental role in India's triumph in the just concluded Asia Cup 2023 and also emerged as the leading run scorer in the continental event. Gill scored a brilliant century in the dead rubber Super Four clash against Bangladesh, however India lost that match. In total Gill amassed a total of 302 runs in the Asia Cup outing riding on a ton and two half-centuries at an outstanding average of 75.50.
Gill is now gearing up for the ODI series against Australia which is set to kick off from September 22. Right on the other side of the three-match series, awaits the cricket carvinal, ODI World Cup 2023, a dream of every aspiring Indian cricketer. Riding on his spectacular batting exploits in recent times, Shubman earned Indian selectors' trust and was included in the Men in Blue's squad for the upcoming World Cup which will be played in India and will commence from October 5.
At the G-shock event on Wednesday, September 20, Shubman Gill was asked as to how does he feel to be playing his maiden ODI World Cup, to which he replied," It's my first World Cup and it's in India. My memories as a kid of watch my country play a World Cup, they are so refresh in my memory. To be able to represent my country for the first time in the World Cup is an amazing feeling,” Gill said.
Gill boast an impressive in ODI cricket and in mere 33 outings he has amassed 1739 runs riding on the back of one double ton, five centuries and eight fifties at a stunning average of 64.41.
His recent heroics with the willow in Asia Cup 2023 also saw him hot on heels with Babar Azam in the latest ICC ODI batting Rankings released on Wednesday, September 20.
With this remarkable form, he breached the 1000-run barrier in ODIs in 2023, joining an elite club as the 13th Indian to achieve this feat. From the moment Gill assumed the opener's position in ODIs in December 2020, his performance has been consistently impressive. However, 2023 is undeniably his banner year. In a mere 17 innings, he amassed an impressive 1,025 runs, with a stellar average of 68.33 and a strike rate of 103.32.
Beyond ODIs, Gill's accomplishments span across formats. He has tallied over 1500 runs this year in all formats, derived from 33 games that include six centuries and five half-centuries. His remarkable stint in the Asia Cup 2023 significantly contributed to these numbers. While he faced some challenges during the West Indies tour in July that extended into the Asia Cup, Gill's subsequent displays silenced his detractors.
At the young age of 24, Gill stands as India's highest run-scorer in all formats for the current year. He also proudly bears the badge of being the only Indian batter to secure centuries in all three major formats. The updated ICC ODI Rankings highlight the diminishing margin between Gill and Babar Azam, with Gill just 43 rating points behind.
Gill will certainly look to continue his purple patch in the biggest assignment of his life so far, ODI World Cup and help India lift the coveted title, ending a 10-year ICC trophy drought since Champions Trophy 2013.
India's squad for ODI World Cup: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
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