IND vs AUS, World Cup 2023: Shubman Gill hasn't been ruled out, we still have 36 hours - Rahul Dravid

Add as a preferred source on Google

IND vs AUS: Head coach Rahul Dravid on Friday confirmed that Shubman Gill hasn't been ruled out of India's World Cup 2023 opener against Australia at the Chepauk in Chennai on Sunday, October 8.

The star India opener is currently down with heavy fever and missed the team's practice session as well. It has been learnt that Gill underwent a test for dengue.

Rahul Dravid has provided clarity on the development and revealed that the 24-year-old was feeling better and hasn't yet been ruled out of the match against Australia.

“The medical team is monitoring on a daily basis. We have 36 hours, we’ll see what decision they make. He’s certainly feeling better today. The medical team hasn’t ruled him out as yet. We’ll keep monitoring him on a day-to-day basis. We’ll see how he feels the day after tomorrow,” Dravid said in the press conference.

In case Shubman Gill is ruled out, Ishan Kishan would get the opportunity to open with Rohit Sharma. Kishan has an impressive record as an opener. The 25-year-old southpaw has opened in seven innings and scored 448 runs at an average of 74.66. He scored the fastest ODI double hundred while opening the innings.

However, Shubman Gill being ruled out will be a major blow for hosts India. The right-hand batter is the leading run-scorer in ODI cricket in 2021. He has scored 1230 runs in 20 matches at an average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03. Five hundred and five fifties have come off his bat so far in the ongoing year.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have opened together in 13 innings and have scored 1048 runs (including four hundred partnership) at an average of 87.33.

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, Ravichandran Ashwin Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav