India’s opening batter Shubman Gill, has been a batting sensation in the recent couple of years. The 23-year-old batter in 20 ODIs in 2023, has scored 1,230 runs at an average of 72.35 and a strike rate of just above 105. He has scored 5 centuries and 5 fifties this year, with the best of 208.
According to reports, Gill had been suffering from dengue. This will be a concern for the Men in Blue side ahead of their ODI World Cup 2023 opening game against Australia as the batter was supposed to open for Sunday’s game. Gill was down with a high fever and was tested for dengue on Friday before a final call was taken on the matter.
If Gill does not start the game who will be the 3 possible replacements for the batter?
3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been in sensational form in the last couple of years. In the Asia Cup 2023, he made a century against arch-rivals Pakistan in their super-4 clash. In that match, he surpassed 13000 ODI runs and became the fastest batter to do so. If Shubman misses the match, Kohli can be a replacement in the opening slot.
The 34-year-old batter has only scored 166 runs in seven matches at an average of 23.71. He opened in his debut match against Sri Lanka and scored 12 runs off 22 deliveries. His last appearance as an opener in ODIs came in the second game against Bangladesh in December 2022, when skipper Rohit Sharma injured his finger while taking a catch.
