India vs Australia, World Cup 2023: Ishan Kishan replaces Shubman Gill, R Ashwin included

India were forced to play Ishan Kishan as an opener in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 opener against Australia on Sunday as Shubman Gill failed to recover in time for the high-octane clash. Gill has been suffering from sickness but the team management has not confirmed the nature of the illness. **IND vs AUS ODI WORLD CUP MATCH LIVE** “Unfortunately he (Shubman Gill) didn’t recover in time, so Ishan comes in to replace him, he will open the batting,” India captain Rohit Sharma said at the toss. India also opted for three spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav for the match in Chennai. Mohammed Siraj was picked as the pacer to partner Jasprit Bumrah over Mohammed Shami. Ashwin’s inclusion means there was no place for Shardul Thakur in the playing XI of India. It seems like the right call considering the spin-friendly nature of the pitch at Chepauk in Chennai. India playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Australia playing XI: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (w), Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa