Vikram Rathour, India’s batting coach, has given a positive update on Shubman Gill’s recovery from an illness that prevented him from participating in the team’s opening match of the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup against Australia. Rathour also stated that the right-handed opener has returned to the team’s hotel in Chennai after a precautionary hospitalization.
On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), without specifying the nature of Gill’s illness, announced that he would miss India’s second match of the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Gill remained in Chennai, where he is under the medical team’s supervision.
“He’s recovering well. Yes, he was hospitalized, but it was more of a precautionary measure. He’s back in the hotel in Chennai and is recovering well. So, he’s being monitored by the medical team. We are hopeful that he will recover soon and be in good shape,” Rathour stated during the pre-match press conference.
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Shubman Gill has been a crucial part of India’s ODI lineup for over a year and a half. He is currently the leading run-scorer in the format this year, accumulating 1230 runs at an impressive average of 72.35 and a strike rate of 105.03. This includes two centuries and as many half-centuries in his last four ODI appearances.
In Gill’s absence, left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan opened the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma in Chennai. However, India faced early setbacks, with Kishan, Rohit, and Shreyas Iyer all being dismissed for ducks – a rare occurrence for India in ODIs.
Despite the challenging situation, KL Rahul (97 not out) and Virat Kohli (85) led India’s remarkable recovery, helping them chase down the target of 200 with six wickets in hand and 52 balls to spare. This victory gave India a strong start to their World Cup campaign.
India will seek to build on this positive start when they take on Afghanistan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
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