Ahead of the high-voltage World Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan, Team India are sweating over the recovery of their star opener Shubman Gill.
Notably, Gill is down with dengue fever and didn’t feature in India’s World Cup opener against Australia at Chepauk on October 8. He stayed back in Chennai to continue with his treatment and recovery as his Indian teammates travel to Delhi for the Afghanistan clash, scheduled for October 11.
While Shubman is racing against time to be fit for the Pakistan game, a report published in CricketNext suggests that the classy right-hander is all set to fly from Chennai to Ahmedabad, where the marquee India-Pakistan encounter is due to take place on October 14.
“Gill will be travelling to Ahmedabad from Chennai today in a commercial flight. He will continue with recovery and rest there, under the watch of BCCI medical team,” a source told News18 CricketNext.
Gill was hospitalised in Chennai after his platelet count dropped below 1,00,000 per micro litre, but was discharged in a day and continued his recovery in the hotel.
Addressing the media on the eve of the Afghanistan match, India batting coach Vikram Rathour also confirmed the news.
“He is recovering well; he was hospitalized yes, but that was more as a precaution. He is back in the hotel [in Chennai]. He is looking good, being monitored by the medical team. Whatever update we get, we are hoping that he will recover pretty soon,” Rathour said.
The 24-year-old is on the right path of recovery but it will be difficult to put a date against his return to competitive action.
“Gill’s vital signs are improving and he is on the right path of recovery – 70-80% recovered. Difficult to say when he will return but things are looking good,” the source told CricketNext.
Despite Gill’s illness, the Indian think tank is ready to play the waiting game, just like Australia are doing with injured Travis Head.
“Look at what Australia are doing with Travis Head. He is injured but they haven’t ruled him out or sought a replacement. Every chance right now is given to Head to make that return. India too are likely to follow a similar approach when it comes to Gill. He has been our one of the most consistent performers in the last year or so,” a BCCI official told CricketNext.
