Shubman Gill has played non-stop cricket in 2023 (AP Photo)
In a crucial decision to preserve their top players ahead of World Cup 2023, the Indian team management has announced that star players Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur will sit out of the concluding ODI against Australia here in Rajkot.
Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur to miss Rajkot ODI
A standout performer this year, Gill has been in scintillating form. Fresh from his match-winning century in Indore, Gill has six ODI hundreds in 2023, with tons against New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Australia.
Notably, he also added a T20I century to his tally. With 1230 runs from 20 innings at an astounding average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03, he leads the run-scoring charts in ODIs this year.
Shardul Thakur has also been a significant asset to the team with his all-round skills. Both players will rejoin the squad in Guwahati, where India will kick-start their World Cup campaign.
The decision to rest Gill and Thakur from the India versus Australia third ODI aligns with the team management's emphasis on workload management, evident from the earlier decision to rest senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the first two ODIs against Australia. The duo is set to return for the final ODI In Rajkot.
With India comfortably sealing the series with back-to-back wins in Mohali and Indore, the focus is now on the probable lineup for the Rajkot ODI. This offers a golden chance for the backup brigade to step up and stake their claim.
As the World Cup 2023 looms, where India is scheduled to play in nine cities, the focus remains on ensuring the players remain fit and in top form. The approach for the final ODI, whether to maintain the winning combination or to experiment, remains to be seen.
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