Shubman Gill, a prominent Indian batsman, is unfortunately battling dengue fever and will be absent from India’s second Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed his unavailability. Due to his illness, Gill had already missed India’s opening match against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In that game, Ishan Kishan was the opening batsman alongside India’s captain, Rohit Sharma.
Shubman Gill to Miss India’s Second World Cup 2023 Match Against Afghanistan
The BCCI issued a statement revealing, “Shubman Gill, a key member of Team India’s batting lineup, will not accompany the team to Delhi on October 9, 2023. Gill, absent from the team’s inaugural match in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia in Chennai, will also miss the upcoming fixture against Afghanistan in Delhi on October 11. He will remain in Chennai under the medical team’s care.”
Rohit Sharma had earlier mentioned in a pre-match press conference before the Australia game, “The team spirit is high, as it usually is before a major tournament. We’ve extensively prepared for this competition, so we’re confident in our skills. Everyone is in good health, although Gill is not at his best due to illness. It’s not an injury concern; he’s unwell. We are closely monitoring his condition on a daily basis and will give him every opportunity to recover and assess how he feels. Therefore, he hasn’t been ruled out yet.”
In Shubman Gill’s absence, Ishan Kishan is expected to partner with Rohit as the opening duo against Afghanistan. Kishan faced a tough time in the match against Australia, failing to score any runs, and will be eager to turn his fortunes around against Afghanistan. Additionally, with Gill sidelined, Shreyas Iyer is likely to slot into the middle-order for India in their second World Cup match. He, too, faced a duck in the game against Australia and will aim for a better performance.
