Former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan has predicted that Shubman Gill will be the top run-scorer in the World Cup 2023, especially with India's upcoming match against Australia on Sunday, October 8.
Shubman Gill has showcased outstanding form in 2023, especially in the ODI format. He's managed to accumulate over 1,230 runs in merely 20 games, making him the year's highest run-scorer in ODIs. His remarkable average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03 further highlight his prowess. Gill's consistency is evident from his six ODI centuries in 2023, the most by any player.
During the Asia Cup 2023, Gill achieved his fifth ODI century and emerged as the tournament's top scorer.
However, there were concerns about Gill's participation in the World Cup's inaugural match against Australia due to a recent bout of dengue fever. Yet, as of October 6, India's coach Rahul Dravid conveyed optimism about Gill's health, mentioning that the young batter was on the mend and hadn't been officially ruled out for the game.
In a conversation with India Today's Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Zaheer expressed his confidence in Gill's potential for the World Cup. He remarked, "Well, look at his year. 2023 has been a phenomenal year for him. He's been scoring hundreds, double hundreds, across formats. Very consistent. I've actually mentioned that, he's going to be the leading scorer for this tournament."
He further added, "That's the kind of year he's having. He's got the potential. He's batting in the top order. It all depends on how you set the tone for the tournament. You know, for a batter like him, If the first couple of innings he gets into the World Cup with nice innings under his belt, then it's just going to be a really great World Cup for him."
Zaheer concluded by saying, "And I will not be surprised if he's one of the leading run scorers for the tournament."
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