The Indian cricket team continues to rotate players in preparation for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, with Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur being the latest to be rested for the final ODI against Australia in Rajkot. This strategic move aims to keep all players fresh and in prime condition for the marquee event next month. Gill and Shardul, who played in the first two ODIs against Australia, will rejoin India’s World Cup squad in Guwahati, where they are scheduled to participate in a warm-up game.

In the series opener in Mohali, Gill contributed significantly with a score of 74, followed by a sublime century in Indore, helping India secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. While Gill has been in sensational form in ODIs this year, Shardul’s performance in the first two matches was less impressive as he went wicketless and proved to be expensive.

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Gill’s exceptional form in ODIs in 2023 makes him a vital asset to India’s World Cup aspirations. He currently leads the run-scoring charts in the format for the year, amassing 1230 runs from 20 innings, including five centuries.

The third ODI against Australia will mark the return of several senior players who were rested for the initial matches. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav are set to rejoin the squad. Jasprit Bumrah, who played in the first match of the series, took a brief break to spend time with his family and is expected to return for the final fixture in Rajkot.

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India’s preparations for the World Cup include warm-up games against England on September 30 and the Netherlands on October 3 in Thiruvananthapuram. The official World Cup campaign begins with a match against Australia in Chennai on October 8. These strategic player rotations and warm-up matches aim to ensure that Team India is in peak form and ready to compete for the coveted ODI World Cup title.