The Indian team’s concerns ahead of their first World Cup game against Australia have been intensified with reports suggesting that Shubman Gill, who is in top form, may be suffering from dengue. This raises doubts about his availability for the match on Sunday, and if he is ruled out, Ishan Kishan could open the innings in his place. The BCCI has not yet confirmed the nature of Gill’s illness, but head coach Rahul Dravid remains hopeful, stating that he is feeling better and the medical team is monitoring him. Dravid added that a decision will be made after further assessment.
However, an anonymous BCCI source revealed that Gill may not be able to play the first two games of the World Cup due to his illness. This contradicts the earlier statement from the BCCI, which stated that they were awaiting updates on his condition. Gill has reportedly been suffering from a high fever since arriving in Chennai and will undergo tests for dengue before a final decision is made regarding his participation. If he is diagnosed with dengue, he could potentially miss several games as the recovery period usually takes around 7-10 days for a player to regain match fitness. In severe cases with a significant drop in platelet count, the recovery time could be longer.
While it is likely that Gill will not be able to play against Australia, there is a possibility that he may also miss the matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan, depending on his recovery timeline. The BCCI source emphasized that the medical team will make the final call, and if Gill is diagnosed with a normal viral fever, he may still play with the help of antibiotics. Gill’s absence for an extended period of time would be a significant setback for the Indian team, as he has been their most prolific batsman in ODIs recently and has formed a successful opening partnership with captain Rohit Sharma.
In conclusion, Gill’s potential absence due to dengue has raised concerns for the Indian team ahead of their World Cup matches, and his availability will be determined after further medical assessment.