A One Day International (ODI) is a version of limited-overs cricket played between two teams with international status. In this format, each team is allocated a fixed number of overs, which is currently set at 50 overs per inning. ODI matches can last up to 9 hours. The Cricket World Cup, typically held every four years, is contested in this format. While these matches are commonly known as One Day Internationals, they are also referred to as Limited Overs Internationals (LOI). It’s important to note that the term “Limited Overs Internationals” can also include Twenty20 International matches. ODIs are considered major matches and represent the highest standard of List A limited-overs competition.
Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur will not be part of the final ODI against Australia in Rajkot. Instead, the team management has decided to grant them a break. They will not travel to Rajkot, where the third game is scheduled, and will rejoin the team in Guwahati as India embarks on their ODI World Cup journey.
Shubman Gill showcased his batting prowess by scoring a century in Indore during the second ODI against Australia, marking his sixth century overall and his fifth in the current year. His centuries include two against New Zealand and one each against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Australia in 2023. He has also notched a T20I century this year. Gill currently leads the run-scoring charts in ODIs for 2023, amassing 1230 runs in 20 innings at an impressive average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03. The first ODI against Australia was a special occasion for him as it marked his debut at his home venue in Mohali as a part of the Indian cricket team. Reflecting on this moment, Gill expressed, “I was 7 years old when we came to Mohali for the first time. Since I had seen so many matches here as a spectator, it was a dream for me to play an international match in Mohali. I’d played a couple of IPL matches but to play an international match with my family watching was special.”
The team management has been carefully planning workload management, leading to the rest of the Indian captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first two ODIs. Both senior players will rejoin the team in Rajkot. Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the second ODI, and the BCCI officially announced that he had taken a break to visit his family. Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar joined the team as Bumrah’s replacement for the 2nd ODI, with the plan for Bumrah to rejoin the team for the final ODI in Rajkot. Considering the lengthy and demanding schedule of the upcoming World Cup, which involves matches in nine different cities, the team management has been actively exploring strategies to ensure the players are well-rested and in top form for the significant ICC tournament.
