The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially released the fixtures for the ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday (June 27). The tournament is set to begin on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The opening match will be played between the finalists of the previous edition, England and New Zealand. India, on the other hand, will commence their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.
However, the most highly anticipated clash of the tournament will take place seven days later between India and Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 15. The rivalry between these two Asian cricketing giants is unparalleled, with immense tension, pressure, and anticipation surrounding their matches.
India-Pakistan matches are known for their high anticipation and the level of stress associated with them. The last time when these two teams met in a head-to-head T20 World Cup match at MCG, India emerged victorious in a thrilling chase, thanks to a memorable knock played by Virat Kohli.
Indian cricketer and commentator Dinesh Karthik, speaking on the ICC digital channel, opined that Shubman Gill will be the player to watch out for in the group stage encounter between India and Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Karthik highlighted Gill’s impressive record at the Narendra Modi Stadium and expects him to make a significant impact in the crucial clash.
In a video posted on the ICC’s official website, Karthik shared his thoughts on the much-anticipated clash.
“In the last six, eight months, Ahmedabad have produced some of the best batting pitches. One man who is gonna definitely say ‘yes’ to that match is Shubman Gill. He has scored a hundred literally every time they have walked out Ahmedabad. He is gonna take the pitch, put it in his pocket and travel with that everywhere he goes,” the veteran wicketkeeper said.
Notably, Gill has been in stellar form with the bat this year; he also led the run charts in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The right-handed batter scored 890 runs in 17 IPL matches, including three centuries and four fifties.
Additionally, Gill has a remarkable record at the Ahmedabad Stadium, accumulating 669 runs in 12 IPL matches at the venue. In recent times, he also smashed a Test century and a T20I hundred in Ahmedabad.
