Shubman Gill: Having already missed India’s initial two matches in the 2023 World Cup against Australia and Afghanistan, it seems increasingly likely that Shubman Gill will remain sidelined for the high-stakes showdown against Pakistan on Saturday, as he continues his recovery from dengue fever.
BCCI releases statement on Shubman Gill
On Monday, the BCCI made its first official statement regarding Shubman Gill’s condition, announcing that the 24-year-old did not accompany the team to Delhi for the match against Afghanistan on Wednesday. However, what the BCCI did not disclose is that Gill has been hospitalized in Chennai due to a decline in his platelet count and is presently under medical care at Kaveri Hospital.
As initially reported, Shubman Gill’s reducing platelet count has sparked concerns, leading medical experts to advise against air travel and recommend medical treatment. Dr. Rizwan Khan, the BCCI’s own physician, is currently overseeing Gill’s medical care in Chennai. Although Gill arrived in Chennai with the rest of the Indian team, he has been absent since October 4, the day before India’s World Cup opener.
Shubman Gill unlikely to play against Pakistan
Dengue presents a challenge as even after the fever subsides and the platelet count improves, weakness lingers in the body. Therefore, if Shubman Gill‘s condition improves and he is discharged, he might join the team in Ahmedabad, but his match fitness remains uncertain. Even if he were to arrive on the 12th or 13th, he would not have had any practice sessions. In such a scenario, the BCCI is unlikely to rush his return, drawing a parallel with the approach taken with Jasprit Bumrah in September last year, which had a clear outcome.
India would face a significant dilemma if Shubman Gill doesn’t recover in time for the Pakistan match. Despite Ishan Kishan’s promotion to open alongside Rohit Sharma, his dismissal for a first-ball duck raises concerns. While this single failure might be considered an anomaly, Ishan had previously scored three consecutive half-centuries against West Indies in August. The absence of Gill is a major setback for India, not only because he is their most in-form batsman with 1230 runs this year at an average of 72.35 but also due to his affinity for batting in Ahmedabad, which is his home ground in the IPL with the Gujarat Titans.
Shubman Gill records in Ahmedabad
At the Narendra Modi Stadium alone, Shubman Gill boasts an impressive record, amassing 572 runs from 9 matches, with a highest score of 128, which includes three fifties and two centuries. His strike rate in Ahmedabad is an impressive 172.80, and he has hit 52 fours and 23 sixes at this venue. While Gill hasn’t played an ODI at this stadium, he has already notched centuries in T20Is (126 not out against New Zealand) and Tests (128 against Australia during this year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy).
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