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India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement looms on the horizon, with skipper Rohit Sharma set to lead the team and the batting order. While Rohit holds the key as the opening batter, the contenders vying for the partner’s role alongside him are numerous.
Opening conundrum: Contenders
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli have emerged as strong contenders for the opening slot, showcasing their form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) despite facing criticism over their strike rates. With the top-order seemingly settled, the spotlight shifts to whether Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Shubman Gill will secure a spot in the team soon to selected under the chairmanship of Ajit Agarkar.
Gill’s credentials as a top-order batters are commendable, having emerged as the highest run-getter in the previous IPL season. With a tally of 890 runs in 17 matches, he came tantalizingly close to surpassing Kohli’s all-time record of 973 runs. However, Gill finds himself struggling in the ongoing season of the tournament, managing only 304 runs in nine outings so far.
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Shubman Gill’s bid for T20 World Cup 2024 selection
In a candid conversation with Sports Tak, Gill shared his aspirations of representing India in the T20 World Cup. Despite his current dip in form, he believed selectors should consider his past performances, particularly his stellar showing in the previous edition where he surpassed the 900 runs mark.
Shubman expressed that every player aspires to represent their country in a World Cup. Despite battling dengue during the ODI World Cup 2023, he returned to the team and gained valuable experience, particularly in India. He reiterated his dream of playing for India in the T20 World Cup. Regarding his own selection, he stated that if he doesn’t make the cut despite a strong performance of over 900 runs in the last season, he will support and wish the selected players well.
“Every player dreams of representing his country in World Cup. I was diagnosed with dengue early in ODI World Cup 2023. I came back to the team and played. I learned a lot during the tournament, especially in India. It is a dream for me to represent India on the biggest stage in T20 World Cup. When it comes to my selection, if I don’t get a chance despite scoring more than 900 runs in last season then I can do only one thing. I’ll cheer for the players who make it into the team and wish them all the best,” Gill said.
Balancing act: Gill’s focus
Gill also stressed the importance of focusing on his current responsibilities with the GT franchise, rather than getting preoccupied with thoughts of selection for the T20 World Cup. He emphasized that his team needs his full commitment, especially given the crucial juncture of the ongoing season. Succumbing to selfish thoughts about personal achievements, such as World Cup selection, could potentially disrupt team dynamics and hinder progress.
“Currently, I’m not thinking about whether my name will be there or not. For now, I have been given a role to this lead this team (GT). If I start thinking about that then I won’t do justice to the role I have been given. Especially, at this moment, my team needs me the most. If I don’t give time to them and start about missing the T20 World Cup squad or think about my runs to get selected then I won’t be able to perform my role,” the 24-year-old concluded.
