[World Cup 2023] Will Shubman Gill Play Against Australia?

Even before their World Cup 2023 campaign could take off, Team India have been given a massive jolt as the in-form opener Shubman Gill is doubtful for the first match against Australia on October 8.

India and Australia both will kick-start their World Cup 2023 campaigns in a high-octane clash this Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. But India are likely to be without their young sensation Shubman Gill as he’s gone down with dengue and the consequent fever.

World Cup 2023: Will Shubman Gill play vs Australia?

Gill is unlikely to play against Australia as he is suffering from fever. Reports say that he tested positive for dengue upon arrival in Chennai. He also didn’t participate in India’s practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Ishan Kishan will slot in the opening role if Gill is ruled out.

Some fans even feel that Shubman Gill could miss even two matches due to dengue.

Dengue literally sucks the life out of you. Guess we will see him only from the 3rd game… https://t.co/CRzpXMoPYG

— arfan (@Im__Arfan) October 6, 2023

Shubman Gill and dengue. Oh, worst possible news for India as he was in the form of his life, and this format suits his style of batting.

Dengue means it will take some time to recover…

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) October 6, 2023

“He is under the weather,” the BCCI said in its update on the young opener. “The medical team is closely monitoring him. We are hoping he gets better soon.”

The 24-year-old has been in pristine touch in ODIs this year. The right-hander is the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year with 1230 runs at an average of 72 and a strike rate of 105. In his last 4 ODIs, he cracked two hundreds and a half-century, two of those coming vs Australia.

Both India and Australia had recently participated in a 3-ODI series which India won by 2-1. However, both teams didn’t play to their best XI in any of the games and had decided to give rest to some players. Once again, India are unlikely to be at the best playing XI with Gill absent. This gives Kishan an opportunity in his maiden ODI World Cup.