Yuvraj Singh backs rising star to open for India at ODI World Cup 2023 at home

Yuvraj Singh, the World Cup winner, has heaped praise on Shubman Gill, saying the young opener is a strong contender to open for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. Gill opened the batting for India in the recent New Zealand series, but he is not a part of the team in the ODI series against Bangladesh.

Gill has made the most of his ODI opportunities in 2022, scoring 638 runs at a stunning average of 70.88 in 12 matches, including a century and four fifties. Gill scored fifty in the first ODI against New Zealand and 45 not out in the second, forming an excellent partnership at the top of the order with Shikhar Dhawan.

“I think Shubman is doing very well and is performing consistently. I believe he is a strong contender to open for India in the 2023 World Cup. Shubman is very hardworking and is doing all the right things. I believe he is destined for greatness in the next 10 years,”  Yuvraj was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

Yuvraj, who retired from all forms of the game in 2019, has mentored some of his state’s young cricketers, including Shubman. The rising star stayed with Yuvraj and trained under him during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, alongside current Punjab skipper and Indian T20 League team Hyderabad all-rounder Abhishek Sharma.

I will like to help in the growth of sports in this country: Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj refused to comment on India’s performance in the 20-20 World Cup 2022 in Australia or the dismissal of national selectors. Yuvraj, on the other hand, has stated that he is willing to work as a sports/cricket administrator.

“I can’t say what will happen in the future but if I can help in the growth of sports in the country, I wouldn’t mind. But it is not just cricket but I will like to help in the growth of sports in this country,” said the hero of the 2007 and 2011 global triumphs,” he said.