India suffered a major setback in the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2023 against Australia in Chennai on Sunday (October 8). The tournament hosts are set to enter the marquee encounter without their favorite top-order opening batsman Shubman Gill after the youngster reportedly tested positive for Dengue recently.
Shubman Gill’s health problems have raised concerns for the Indian team ahead of their 1st World Cup match against Australia on Sunday (October 8). If Shubman Gill is unable to play the match tomorrow, then Ishan Kishan can be in the next line of the innings.
On Friday morning, it was reported that India’s star opener Shubman Gill’s availability for the World Cup match against Australia on Sunday was uncertainty due to his illness and high body temperature.
Some sources said that the in-form opener, who missed the team’s net session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, is undergoing medical treatment by the medical team after testing positive for dengue. People in the know said that the team management is keeping an eye on Shubman Gill’s progress and a decision on his availability will be taken very soon after another round of testing on Friday.
Physical recovery time for Dengue patients varies, but it generally takes about 7 to 10 days to feel normally fit and strong enough to play the match. Speaking of Shubman Gill’s fitness, Dravid said that the medical team is constantly monitoring Gill’s health, insisting that he has not been ruled out of the match against Australia.
India will take on Australia in their opening match on Sunday and two days before the game, Head Coach Rahul Dravid has finally provided an update on Shubman Gill’s health. Although Dravid didn’t confirm whether the young opener would be available for the match against Australia, he also did not rule out Gill’s possible participation.
Gill has been one of the top performers for India in the 50-overs format this year. Apart from being the team’s leading run-scorer this year, the youngster was also the leading run-scorer in last month’s Asia Cup with 302 runs in 6 innings.
If Shubman Gill doesn’t have to play in India’s match against Australia, then the team management can try Ishan Kishan to pair with Rohit Sharma at the top order. Ishan Kishan batted for a long time in the net session on Friday evening and Dravid was watching him closely. Ishan Kishan was drafted as a backup opener and wicket-keeper in the World Cup squad.