'Shubman Gill is 99 Percent Available': Rohit Sharma Says Opener Warming up With Indian Team Ahead of Pakistan Contest

Star opener Shubman Gill is ’99 per cent’ available for Saturday’s high-octane ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 clash between India and Pakistan to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

While addressing media on the match even in Ahmedabad, India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that Gill is fit enough for the contest but they will take a call on his availability on the match day.

“Shubman Gill is 99% available, we will see tomorrow,” said Rohit on Friday.

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India have started their world cup campaign with two wins out of two that saw them beat Australia in Chennai and then Afghanistan in Delhi.

Gill missed both the matches due to dengue but has returned to practice ahead of the India vs Pakistan match. He was being monitored by the BCCI medical team in Chennai and had also spent a night in hospital.

The 24-year-old didn’t travel with the India squad to Delhi and flew directly to Ahmedabad on Wednesday while his team-mates took on Afghanistan in the national capital.

Gill has been in red-hot form and is currently the leading run-getter in ODIs this year.

There were speculations that he may end up missing the crucial Pakistan match too but the fact that Rohit has confirmed Gill is 99 per cent available and that he has been practising have vastly improved chances of him featuring in the marquee clash on Saturday afternoon.

Ishan Kishan has opened in place of Gill with captain Rohit in the first two matches of the world cup 2023 for India.

Meanwhile, the two teams will be locking horns at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s biggest cricket venue in terms of capacity.

Rohit says his players know what it’s like to play in front of ‘big crowds’ and is hoping the home support will prove beneficial.

“All guys are used to play in front of big crowds, it can only work in your favour not against you. Boys really enjoy… anywhere we go, people come out in huge numbers,” said Rohit.

India took the field with three spinners in Chennai but dropped one and including a pace bowling allrounder for Delhi.

Will they return to three-pronged spin attack in Ahmedabad?

“I don’t know, haven’t looked at wicket. If requirement is there to play three spinners, we will,” said Rohit.