IND v PAK, World Cup 2023: Shubman Gill bats at nets in Ahmedabad after recovery from dengue

In a piece of welcome news ahead of India’s big-ticket World Cup 2023 match against Pakistan, young opener Shubman Gill trained at the nets at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, hours.

After reaching the city on Wednesday. Shubman batted for an hour at the nets with help from throwdown specialists in Motera even as the rest of the team arrived in the city later in the day.

Shubman Gill trained in an exclusive batting session in Motera before noon on Thursday and also did a bit of fielding drills as he took to the field for the first time since recovering from dengue.

Shubman faced left-arm throwdown expert Nuwan Seneviratne, who had flown from Delhi to Ahmedabad on Wednesday to make sure he was there at the training session, according to PTI news agency. Team doctor Rizwan kept an eye on Gill as he began the training session with sprints and strides.

Shubman Gill missed the first two matches of India’s World Cup campaign after he tested positive for dengue in the lead-up to the opening game against Australia in Chennai. Gill did not travel to New Delhi with the rest of the team for their game against Afghanistan as he stayed back in Chennai to continue his recovery from illness.

Gill was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Monday evening after his platelet count dipped and the star batter was discharged on Tuesday morning after treatment.

Gill left for Ahmedabad on Wednesday after getting clearance from the medical team of the Indian cricket team. It remains to be seen if Gill will return to action for the big-ticket clash against Pakistan in one of his favourite hunting grounds, the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Gill has been in sensational form in ODIs in 2023, hitting over 1200 runs and 5 hundreds. The young batter will be looking forward to making his World Cup debut sooner than later.

Earlier before India’s first game against Australia, captain Rohit Sharma highlighted that the team management would give Shubman Gill every chance to completely recover from his illness before taking a call on his availability.

“… He is 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 quickly,” Rohit had said.

Ishan Kishan, who opened in place of Shubman Gill, got out for 0 against Australia but the left-hander got going with a run-a-ball 47 against Afghanistan in New Delhi.