Shubman Gill To Be Tested For Dengue, Likely To Miss India vs Australia ICC World Cup 2023 Match - Reports

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Blow for India before their ICC World Cup 2023 opener against Australia as opener Shubman Gill is reportedly down with fever and is set to undergo tests for Dengue on Friday (October 6).

India is scheduled to open their World Cup campaign on Sunday (October 8) against the five-time champions Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. But if reports are to be believed, then the team head into the match with a massive blow.

According to a report on PTI, in-form Gill is a doubtful starter for Sunday's match as India's most prolific batter in ODIs in recent times, is reportedly down with high fever and will be tested further on Friday before a final call is taken on the matter.

"Shubhman has had high fever since landing in Chennai. His tests are being done. He will have tests on Friday and a call will be taken on his participation in opening game," PTI quoted a BCCI source privy to team developments as saying to them.

Further reports suggested that Gill is being tested for dengue and in that case, he could well miss a couple of games as physical recovery of dengue patients vary and it normally takes around 7-10 days to be up and match ready.

The same source, however, said it's better not to jump into conclusions as this could just be a "normal viral fever" and the opener could still play with some medication, but said the call belongs to the medical team.

"Let's not jump the gun. If it's normal viral fever, he could play on antibiotics but it's completely the medical team's call," the source was quoted as saying by PTI.

Who can open for India vs Australia if Gill fails to recover?

In case Gill fails to recover in time for India vs Australia match, then Ishan Kishan will be the obvious choice to take the openers spot although there is also an option to use KL Rahul to open alongside Rohit Sharma.

However, to lose an in-form player like Gill will come as a blow to India, who will want to get their campaign started with a statement win over a team like Australia.

In 20 ODIs this year, Gill has scored 1230 runs at an average of 72.35 and a strike rate of just above 105, making him the best batter for India. He has scored five centuries and five fifties this year, with the best of 208.

India World Cup 2023 squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Surya Kumar Yadav.