Swashbuckling India opener Abhishek Sharma is doubtful for Thursday’s T20 World Cup match against Namibia in New Delhi after being admitted to the hospital due to a stomach infection. For the last two days, Sharma has been in the hospital.
“Abhishek has been admitted to a private hospital in Delhi due to stomach infection. Some tests are being done to ascertain the problem. It is still not clear whether he will be discharged today. But match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now,” PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
In the first match on Saturday in Mumbai, Abhishek got out for a duck against the USA and did not return to field. Sanju Samson fielded in his place.
India’s top priority is not the match against Namibia, but rather the encounter against an improving Pakistani team on February 15 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the pitch will be a little different.
It’s unclear if Abhishek will be able to fly on Friday, practice on Saturday, and play the match on Sunday because stomach infections are known to impair stamina and endurance.
Samson spent a lot of time with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and batted in the nets on Tuesday, which suggests that the team management is considering its options in case Abhishek is unable to recover fully.
The Indian team management, however, hopes to see him on the field on February 15. According to reports, the 25-year-old left considerably earlier than the other players after attending the dinner at head coach Gautam Gambhir’s house in Delhi on Sunday.
