Indian cricket players Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur won’t be included in the squad for the upcoming third and final ODI against Australia in Rajkot on Wednesday.
The team management has chosen to provide them with a short rest period, after which they will join the team in Guwahati, where they will commence their ODI World Cup preparations with a warm-up match against England on September 30.
Gill maintained his excellent form with a remarkable century in the second ODI in Indore, where Team India secured the series.
The opening batsman had previously contributed a crucial half-century in the home team’s five-wicket victory in the series opener in Mohali on September 22. In 2023, Gill has accumulated 1230 runs in 20 innings.
In contrast, Thakur managed to secure three wickets during India’s narrow defeat to Bangladesh in the 2023 Asia Cup. However, he didn’t manage to claim any wickets in both the ODIs against Australia while serving as the third seamer in the revamped bowling lineup.
In the ongoing series, Team India has been missing some prominent names, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, who were rested for the first two matches.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah also received a brief break to spend time with his family, and he was replaced by Mukesh Kumar in the squad for the second ODI.
Shubman Gill is determined to rise to the top of the ODI batter rankings
Shubman Gill solidified his position at the top of the batting order following an impressive home season at the beginning of the year. His remarkable performances led to the exclusion of Shikhar Dhawan, and he has established a strong partnership with captain Rohit Sharma.
Gill’s consistency has propelled him to the second spot in the ICC rankings, just behind Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam, who currently holds the top position with 857 points. Gill is steadily climbing the rankings and has accumulated 812 points.
Regarding the ongoing series, Rohit will resume his role as the opening batter in the third ODI, while Virat Kohli’s return will necessitate a reshuffling in the middle order.
There’s a possibility that Ishan Kishan may return as an opener, potentially replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad, who only managed eight runs in the second ODI.
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