Shubman Gill & Avesh Khan Set To Be Released From India T20 World Cup 2024 Squad After IND vs CAN Match

Reserve opener Shubman Gill and pacer Avesh Khan will be released from the Indian team following their final T20 World Cup group match against Canada.

Shubman Gill & Avesh Khan Set To Be Released From India T20 World Cup 2024 Squad

Source : Instagram/@shubmangill and PTI

Indian cricket team’s reserve opener Shubman Gill and speedster Avesh Khan for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 are set to be released from the Indian squad after the team's final T20 World Cup group stage match against Canada on June 15 (Saturday). Heading into the Super 8 stage, the team management has decided they do not need to carry four standby players. Therefore, only designated finisher Rinku Singh and left-arm fast-medium bowler Khaleel Ahmed will accompany the team for the Caribbean leg of the tournament.

As per PTI, a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source revealed that it was pre-decided for Shubman Gill and Avesh Khan to remain with the squad only until the group stage in the United States. They will be released from the squad after the game against Ireland.

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"Shubman and Avesh were supposed to only stay till the group league stages in the United States. That was pre-decided. So, after Ireland game, they will be released from the squad," a senior BCCI source told PTI.

Reason Behind Gill & Avesh's Release From India Squad

The decision to release Gill and Avesh is straightforward. If there are any injury concerns for skipper Rohit Sharma or star batter Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is already in the squad of 15, can step in. There is no need for a fourth opener during the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. Additionally, Gill did not get much batting time during the usual net sessions in New York as per the PTI report.

Rinku, who has had substantial net sessions, will stay with the team as a middle-order finisher and a potential replacement for any injured player in that position. As a left-hander, Rinku is a like-for-like replacement for Shivam Dube, excluding Dube's medium pace.

For Avesh, the team already has three frontline pacers plus Hardik Pandya, with Dube as a fifth medium pacer if needed. Once the team reaches the Caribbean, practice sessions will be minimal due to the short turnaround time between Super 8 games, with travel to the next island occurring the day before each match. Therefore, a net bowler isn't necessary. Khaleel will remain with the squad because he is a left-arm pacer, serving as a like-for-like replacement for Arshdeep in case of any injury.

India have already qualified for the Super 8 stage following their wins in all the three matches that they played. They will next play against Canada at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida on June 15.