Shubman Gill, currently with the Indian team as a travelling reserve, is scheduled to head back to India after the conclusion of the US leg of the T20 World Cup. Similarly, one of the reserve fast bowlers, likely Avesh Khan, is also expected to return home following the match against Canada in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 15.
Both Gill and Avesh are presently in Florida. They travelled with the team from New York to Fort Lauderdale via a chartered flight organised on Wednesday. This charter was arranged for both the Indian and USA teams after their game at Nassau County International Stadium in Long Island earlier that afternoon.
Sources indicate that Gill and Avesh were always slated to stay with the team only through the US matches, unless unexpected injuries necessitated their extended presence. They accompanied the squad as travelling reserves because sending replacements from India to the US or the Caribbean on short notice would have been challenging for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The two players might be required to remain with the team if any regular player sustains an injury during the practice session on June 14 or the subsequent game. However, this scenario seems unlikely due to the adverse weather conditions in Florida, which could potentially disrupt the World Cup schedule. Additionally, with Yashasvi Jaiswal available as a third opener and the expectation that the team will rely more on spinners in the Caribbean, the need for an extra pacer appears minimal.
When the World Cup squad was announced on April 30, Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan were named as reserves by the selection committee. Currently, it appears that Rinku and Khaleel will remain with the team and continue to Bridgetown, Barbados, where India will play their first Super 8 game on June 20. The subsequent Super 8 matches are scheduled for June 22 in Antigua and June 24 in St. Lucia. Should India advance to the semifinals, the match will take place in Georgetown, Guyana, on June 27, with the final set for Bridgetown on June 29.
This planned return of Gill and Avesh aligns with the team’s strategy to adapt to the evolving conditions and requirements as they progress through the T20 World Cup stages.