- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Gill may also miss India’s October 19 match against Bangladesh.
By: Shubham Ghosh
ACE India opening batter Shubman Gill, who is still recovering from a bout of dengue fever, has been discharged from a hospital in the southern city of Chennai but he would still have to wait to make his World Cup debut. He is unlikely for his country’s mega clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14.
The 24-year-old batter, who came into the marquee tournament that kicked off last week with a good form, missed India’s opening match against Australia in Chennai on Sunday (8). Ishan Kishan replaced him as the opener but fell for a first-ball duck.
Gill stayed back in Chennai for treatment even as his team left for Delhi for the second game against Afghanistan.
He had to be admitted to hospital on Sunday night after his platelet count dropped below 100,000. Indian team’s doctor Rizwan also accompanied him and monitored his progress. He had tested positive for the viral infection upon his arrival in Chennai last week.
The ace batter, who hit two centuries and one fifty in his last four outings, is required to rest for at least one more week and that effectively ruled him out of the match against Pakistan. He might miss the match against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19 as well.
“Shubman Gill was on drip at the Chennai team hotel for the last couple of days. His platelet count dropped to 70,000 and he was admitted to a medical facility as a precautionary measure. He was admitted for all mandatory tests on Sunday night when India played Australia but by Monday evening he was discharged,” a source in the Board of Control for Cricket in India told the PTI on conditions of anonymity.
A bout of dengue weakens the body considerably and even elite athletes take time to recover completely.
India captain Rohit Sharma had said that his first priority for him is to see that Gill is no longer sick.
“I feel for him. But in terms of, you know, me being the human being first, I want him to get well, not the captain thinking, oh, I want Gill to play tomorrow. No, I want him to get well he you know he’s a young guy he’s got fit body so he’ll recover he’ll recover quick,” Rohit has said before the game against Australia.
There is a possibility that selectors might call up a cover for Gill. The first option will be Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was selected as an opener during the Australia series and also scored a half-century in Mohali.
As per the succession line created, Gaikwad is next but left-handed sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been in fantastic form, will also be in the mix.
(With PTI inputs)
