India are likely to be without the services of star batter Shubman Gill for their opening ICC World Cup 2023 match against Australia in Chennai on October 8.
The right-handed batter is suffering from fever and also missed India's training sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.
"He is under the weather," the official update from the BCCI said. "The medical team is closely monitoring him. We are hoping he gets better soon."
Gill is the highest run-scorer in ODIs this year with 1230 runs at an average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03. In his last four 50-over matches, he notched up two centuries and a half-century.
In case Gill sits out Sunday's game, Ishan Kishan could replace him at the top of the order. Kishan has three fifties in five ODIs as an opener in 2023, which includes an 82-run knock against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup at the number five position.
A total of 10 teams will fight for the elusive title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19.
The Cricket World Cup will be played in the round-robin format with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches.
The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. The semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
The winners of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will earn US$4 million. The runners-up will receive US$2 million, while the losing semi-finalists will earn $800,000 each from the total prize pot of US$10 million.
The winners of each match in the group stage will receive US$40,000 and the six teams that do not qualify for the semi-finals will receive a payment of US$100,000.
- Shubman Gill
