Shubman Gill to miss IND vs PAK ICC Cricket World Cup match, Ishan Kishan to open; Team India not to call any replacement: Sources

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Shubman Gill Fitness Update: After getting discharged from the hospital, India cricketer Shubman Gill arrived in Ahmedabad where he will join the rest of his teammates when they reach Gujarat. India will take on Pakistan on Saturday (October 14) in Ahmedabad in the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.

Before the tournament opener, Gill contracted dengue fever and the 24-year-old batter had to miss out on Team India's opening game against Australia in Chennai on Sunday (October 8), which the Men in Blue won.

Shubman Gill arrives in Ahmedabad

The cricketer was discharged after getting treated at a hospital in Chennai as his platelet count dropped, a common phenomenon with the mosquito-borne disease. The dengue fever makes the patient weak and feeble and it usually takes a week's time to get completely fit.

The Punjab batter subsequently missed his team's second league game against Afghanistan, which is being played at Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday (October 11).

Sources informed myKhel, "The 24-year-old cricketer has arrived in Ahmedabad and he might start training in the coming days. However, a call on his match fitness will be taken at a later date. But by the looks of it, the team management isn't going to jump the gun and Gill will be given the time to regain his complete fitness.

"He might miss the India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad but the captain and coach will take a call on (his availability) for the Pune game (vs Bangladesh on October 19) or Dharamsala (vs New Zealand on October 22)."

Shubman Gill replacement not called in by Team India

The source further informed myKhel that the team management hasn't thought of bringing in anyone as Gill's replacement. Reports were doing the rounds that Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal could be included in the squad as the right-handed batter's replacement.

"No such call on bringing Gill's replacement has been taken by the team management for now, and the youngster will join the team in Ahmedabad," the source added further.

Team India to persist with Ishan Kishan

Another reason why Team India isn't thinking about bringing any replacement for Gill is because it is a long tournament and they are going to persist with Ishan Kishan, who is playing as opener for the team in Gill's absence.

Kishan played a mature knock against Pakistan on September 2 in Asia Cup 2023 and that is also one of the reasons why captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid are backing the Jharkhand cricketer. The explosive left-handed batter will open innings for India against Pakistan.

"He showed a lot of character in that high-stakes contest against Pakistan in Asia Cup. It was a crucial knock from Ishan as he rescued the team from a precarious situation and the team management will look to give him another opportunity in Ahmedabad," the source claimed.