2023 ODI WORLD CUP

Shubman Gill is currently sidelined and may miss several days of play. The Indian opener is at risk of sitting out a couple of World Cup games due to being diagnosed with Dengue fever. As of now, the Indian team management has not initiated any replacement efforts.

Sources within the team have disclosed to Cricbuzz that Gill began displaying symptoms of Dengue fever or infection while the team was in Guwahati (for the first warm-up game on September 30). He promptly reported this to the team doctor, Rizwan Khan, and underwent tests upon the team’s arrival in Thiruvananthapuram, where the team was to play the second warm-up game, against Netherlands on October 3.

Both the warm-ups were washed out but it was learnt that the 24-year-old opener was available for selection for both the games.

On Thursday evening, when he was taken for further tests in Chennai, it was confirmed that he indeed had Dengue fever. The severity of the fever is still being assessed, but team sources indicate that he is not experiencing extreme weakness or discomfort.

Additional tests may be conducted, particularly focusing on his kidneys, as Dengue fever can affect this vital organ as well. A team official made the following statement to Cricbuzz on Friday morning: “He’s not feeling well, and the medical team is closely monitoring him. We are hopeful for his speedy recovery.”

But the team management does not want to risk him on Sunday, given the long competition ahead. It is likely that he will be rested for India’s World Cup opener against Australia at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. He may even miss the second game against Afghanistan in New Delhi on October 11.

India may go in with 3 spinners vs Australia

Understandably, the 24-year-old Gill was unable to participate in the Indian team’s practice sessions on Thursday. This has fueled speculation about who will partner with skipper Rohit Sharma as the opening batsman in the game against Australia. Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are the top contenders, but it’s likely that the team management will prefer the left-handed batsman. Rahul will be asked to play in the middle order.

Meanwhile, it is further learned that India might go in with all three spinners in the squad – R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav — against Australia. The decision is based on the nature of the Chepauk strip, which is likely to assist spin. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will be the two pacers, with Hardik Pandya chipping in with some overs with his medium pace.