Gill has tested positive for dengue fever and is all set to miss India’s first game of the World Cup against Australia in Chennai on October 8.

Gill has not attend India’s practice sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the last couple of days as he was struggled with illness. Tests have now confirmed that he has dengue fever. Recovery from dengue usually takes around a week, effectively ruling out Gill from India’s first World Cup game on October 8.

The blow is a significant one for the World Cup hosts. Gill has not only been India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs this year but the highest in world cricket, with 1,230 runs from 20 innings at an average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 104.95. From the 20 innings he has batted in ODIs this year, he has passed 50 ten times and 100 five times. No other batter in the world has scored more than three centuries in ODIs this year.

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India will have to find a way to replace their ace opener. The obvious option is to bring in Ishan Kishan, who is the floating backup batter in the squad supposed to fill in both the opener and the middle-order role based on requirements. The other option would be to promote KL Rahul to open alongside Rohit Sharma. However, given how Rahul has found a home in the middle order lately, that seems unlikely.

Kishan has opened seven times in ODI cricket and has a tremendous record, having scored 448 runs at an average of 74.7 and a strike rate of 125.1, including the epic double century he scored against Bangladesh last year.

Kishan would also provide a left-handed option at the top of the order. Given Mitchell Starc’s prowess with the white new ball, particularly against right-handed batters, India wouldn’t mind having Kishan at the top.