Shubman Gill tests positive for dengue ahead of IND vs AUS ICC Cricket World Cup Match: Team India could be without services of their present most formidable batters in ODIs, Shubman Gill, when they take on five-time World Cup winners Australia in IND vs AUS ICC Cricket World Cup match on Sunday (October 8). Shubman is reportedly down with dengue fever and it is expected that the talented youngster won't be part of Sunday's IND-AUS ODI World Cup 2023 match. BCCI is yet to confirm nature of Shubman's illness but the star player hasn't been ruled out of IND vs AUS match yet.
An official word on Gill will most likely be out when India captain Rohit Sharma interacts with the media, today. As fans all over the world await an official update on Shubman Gill's health, let's have a look at the three players who can replace him as opener in Sunday's India vs Australia ICC Cricket World Cup match in Ahmedabad.
Ishan Kishan has plenty of experience when it comes to bat as an opener in limited-overs cricket and has shown his ability to provide explosive starts at the top of the order. While he may not have been the first-choice opener with Gill in the lineup, his inclusion as an opener in Gill's absence makes sense. Notably, it doesn't matter how well Ishan Kishan performs as an opener, he will be dropped from number 1 batting slot to make way for Gill when he returns. Not to forget, Kishan was dropped from India XI after scoring a double-hundred.
If not Ishan Kishan, then the team management might ask wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul to bat as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma. KL Rahul has the experience of batting as a full-time opener. He batted as an opener for India in 2019 ODI World Cup when Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out after getting injured. However, it is highly unlikely that Rahul will be promoted to open the innings in Shubman Gill's absence as the team requires a solid batter like him more importantly in the middle-order.
Suryakumar Yadav: Suryakumar Yadav, at present, is not a first-choice player for India XI but the team selections sometimes change due to various factors, mostly the pitch conditions. It is highly unlikely to happen but it would indeed be a surprising move if the Indian team management decides to include Suryakumar Yadav in the playing XI and give the explosive batter the opening role against Australia.