After missing out on playing in India's opening match of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia, star opener Shubman Gill will once again be forced to miss out on making his debut in the mega event after he is set to miss out on the second game against Afghanistan as well.
Gill, who is recovering from a bout of Dengue, did not travel with the team to Delhi on October 9, 2023. He will miss the clash on Wednesday, October 1. He will stay back in Chennai and will continue to be under the supervision of the medical team, confirmed BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
Earlier, Gill tested positive for dengue ahead of the Men in Blue's opening ODI World Cup match against Australia. Ishan Kishan was promoted to the top of the order to open the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma. If Gill misses the match against Afghanistan, it will be a massive blow for India as the young willow-wielder has been in the form of his life before the ODI World Cup.
In his absence, the Indian top order struggled to perform at all. They were shaken by the formidable pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, leaving the team at a precarious 2/3. This dire start to India's innings saw Captain Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer dismissed without scoring, all falling victim to Starc and Hazlewood's prowess. It was then that Kohli and Rahul stepped up to steady the ship.
In 2023, Gill has firmly established himself as a linchpin in India's ODI team. His remarkable performance against Australia, coupled with a consistent year, underscores his immense talent and burgeoning reputation on the global stage.
Delving into Gill's 2023 statistics, he stands out as the highest run-scorer in ODIs. The stylish batsman has accumulated 1,230 runs across 20 innings, boasting an impressive average exceeding 72. Throughout the year, Gill has crafted five centuries and an equal number of fifties in the 50-over format. Additionally, the Gujarat Titans' star player marked his name with a double ton in one of the ODIs.
As we look ahead, the focus shifts to Gill's health updates, with the nation fervently wishing for the top-order batsman's speedy recovery.
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