The Indian cricket fraternity holds its breath as star batsman Shubman Gill battles dengue fever, casting a cloud of uncertainty over his participation in the crucial World Cup opener against Australia in Chennai on Sunday. The in-form opener, who was conspicuously absent from the team’s net session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, is currently undergoing treatment, with his availability for the match hanging in the balance.
Indian head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the media during a press conference on Friday in Chennai, providing insight into Gill’s condition. “He’s feeling better today, and the medical team is monitoring him on a day-to-day basis. There is still more than 36 hours to go for the match. We will take a call on him later,” he stated, offering a glimmer of hope to fans, though it is highly likely that the talented batter from Punjab will miss the World Cup opener. “The medical team hasn’t ruled him out yet and are monitoring him closely. We’ll see how he feels the day after tomorrow.”
The absence of Gill, India’s brightest young batting talent, would be a significant blow to the team’s prospects. Gill is in remarkable form. He made headlines with a stunning double century against New Zealand, showcasing his immense potential. While he faced a minor slump during the West Indies tour, his consistency remained impressive. Gill was the leading run-scorer in the Indian Premier League, amassing a whopping 890 runs, and he topped the batting charts in the recent Asia Cup with 302 runs to his name.
In recent innings, Gill has been in sensational touch, with scores of 104, 74, 27*, 121, 19, 58, and 67*. His prowess at the crease has made him a formidable force in the world of cricket, and his potential absence against Australia would undoubtedly leave a void in the Indian lineup.
In the event that Gill fails to recover in time for the match, India’s team management will face a challenging decision on whether Ishan Kishan or KL Rahul should step up to open the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma.