It seems Shubman Gill’s dream of playing a home World Cup is diminished. The 24-year-old is suffering from dengue and recently got admitted to a hospital in Chennai. While he got discharged today, the 24-year-old is unlikely to feature in the games against Afghanistan & Pakistan. It is still not clear whether Gill will play in the further matches in WC. Gill’s loss is Ishan Kishan’s gain as the southpaw is set to open with Rohit Sharma against Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kishan also played his WC game against Australia, but the southpaw did not trouble the scores. However, the wicketkeeper batter is set to retain his place in the game against Afghanistan as he is the third leading run scorer for India after Gill and Kohli in ODIs in 2023. Kishan also performed well in the opening role, rather than playing in the middle order.
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Ishan Kishan: Kishan’s time to shine as Gill likely to be ruled out of World Cup
There is some strange connection between Gill and Ishan Kishan. Whenever Gill gets injured, it has been Kishan who has filled as his best friend’s replacement in the playing XI. Kishan also opened during the series against West Indies, when Gill was rested. Kishan has a chance to shine as the opener in WC as Gill is set to miss more matches in the WC.
Kishan has a massive advantage, as he has always performed well as an opener, rather than in the middle order. Kishan averages 45 as an opener, as opposed he averaging 25 in the middle order. Kishan would be the first-choice opener in the absence of Gill.