The 13th edition of ODI World Cup kicked off on October 5 with New Zealand thrashing England by nine wickets in the opener. Team India is set to start their campaign against five-time champions Australia. However, a couple of days before the clash, they have been dealt with a huge blow as opener Shubman Gill has tested positive for dengue.
He was down with fever and didn't attend India's practice sessions in Chennai either. The star batter underwent dengue tests and the report confirmed today according to ESPNCricinfo. He is now set to miss the team's opening encounter now. Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are the other two contenders to open the innings now with Rohit Sharma.
As for Gill, the tam management was earlier hoping it to be flu but that isn't the case. "He is under the weather. The medical team is closely monitoring him. We are hoping he gets better soon," BCCI had earlier said officially. Gill not playing is a big blow for India as he is the leading run-getter in ODIs this year with 1230 runs at an average of 72.35 and a strike-rate of 105.03. His form is exceptional as well scoring two centuries and a century in his last four appearances.
Meanwhile, even though Rahul is part of the squad, Kishan is most likely to open the innings now. He shined in the Asia Cup at number five as well and has also scored three fifties in five innings as opener in 2023. As for Rahul who is another contender, has opened in 23 matches in ODIs mustering 915 runs at an average of 43.57.
India squad for World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
