Shubman Gill tests positive for DENGUE and forced to miss start of 2023 ODI World Cup

Shubman Gill will miss India's first World Cup match against Australia.

Shubman Gill tests positive for DENGUE and forced to miss start of 2023 ODI World Cup

Shubman Gill looks dejected after getting dismissed against West Indies (Image via FirstSportz)

In the early hours of 6th October, Hindi news outlet Dainik Jagran reported that Shubman Gill had tested positive for dengue. The 24-year-old opener has been having a great run in One Day Internationals in 2023 and many experts and fans had predicted him having a stellar ODI World Cup. 

Unfortunately, Gill has been forced to miss the first few matches of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup after testing positive for dengue. He did not attend training sessions in the MA Chidambaram Stadium on 4th and 5th October. The team management thought it was just a fever but it was later confirmed that it is dengue.

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The symptoms of dengue usually last for 2-7 days, but it could take Gill over a week to return to full fitness. This will see Gill miss a couple of matches of his first ODI World Cup. He has had a stellar 2023 in ODIs, scoring 1230 runs in 20 innings, averaging 72.35. He has also scored four centuries, one double century and five half centuries. 

Related: “Babar’s time to go down now”- Netizens in awe as Shubman Gill blasts 5th ODI ton in 2023 to join elite list

Who opens for India now that Shubman Gill is out? 

Now that Shubman Gill is confirmed to miss India’s World Cup opener against Australia, India now has one opener slot free. It could be taken by either Ishan Kishan or KL Rahul. 

KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan
KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are in contention to open for India in the opener of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup (Images ESPN)

KL Rahul last opened in ODIs in 2022, during India’s tour of Zimbabwe. Ishan Kishan opened the batting in the 2023 Asia Cup Finals, when India needed to chase down a measly score of 51. While KL Rahul is the more experienced opener for India, he has been one of India’s best middle order batsmen in the past few years. Kishan meanwhile, has had his best performances while opening the batting.

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