Shubman Gill is set to miss India’s opening match of the 2023 ODI World Cup, against Australia in Chennai on October 8, after testing positive for dengue*. In Gill’s absence, Ishan Kishan is likely to open the innings with captain Rohit Sharma. Another option is KL Rahul.
After Gill did not attend India’s training sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday, the team management was hoping for it to be nothing more than a flu, but that was not to be the case.
“He is under the weather,” the official update from BCCI had said. “The medical team is closely monitoring him. We are hoping he gets better soon.”
Gill has been in red-hot form this year for India across formats. In 20 ODIs, Gill has amassed 1230 runs, the most by a batter in 2023, at a stellar average of 72.35 and with five centuries. This includes a sparking double century against New Zealand, to go with half-centuries. While India have the reinforcements to fill in for an ill-Gill, not having the in-form opener for Sunday’s contest promises to shake things up within the Indian camp.
Kishan has three half-centuries in five ODIs as an opener this year, to go with an impressive 82 against Pakistan from No. 5. Rahul, who made a comeback from injury during the Asia Cup, last opened in an ODI in August 2022, against Zimbabwe. Overall, he has opened 23 times in ODIs, scoring 915 runs at an average of 43.57.
