‘Not in full fitness as I am four kilos down from dengue’ – Shubman Gill gives health update after Wankhede heroics

Shubman Gill with Golden Badge. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Following his impressive run-a-ball 92 against Sri Lanka, Indian opener Shubman Gill revealed that he is still working on regaining full fitness after being sidelined for the first two matches of the 2023 Cricket World Cup due to a bout of dengue. Gill mentioned he lost four kilograms due to the illness, and he continues to recover from the muscle and mass loss.

The Punjab batter’s stellar performance, complemented by half-centuries from Virat Kohli (88) and Shreyas Iyer (82), propelled India to a formidable total of 357 for loss of eight wickets, resulting in a dominant 302-run victory over Sri Lanka and securing their spot in the tournament semifinals. During the post-match discussion, the 24-year-old emphasized the physical toll he endured and his strategic approach to shaping his innings.

“Not in full fitness. I am four kilos down from dengue in terms of mass and muscle weight. The odd ball was seaming and I hit the balls in my areas. You couldn’t get into a shell. I looked to put pressure on the bowlers. I felt in the previous matches I got starts except the last one. We thought about rotating the strike today. I honestly don’t think it was a 400 wicket. We batted well to get 350,” said Gill during the post-match presentation.

Also Check: List of Shubman Gill international & IPL centuries

Mohammed Shami tumbling records at the World Cup

Talking of India’s match, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was in exceptional form against Sri Lanka, securing a remarkable 5-wicket haul while conceding a mere 18 runs. In the process, he surpassed Zaheer Khan’s record for the most World Cup wickets for India, achieving this feat in just 14 innings compared to Zaheer’s 34. Shami’s outstanding performance earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match award, and he attributed his consistency to his hard work and dedication.

“It’s very important to be in rhythm in white ball cricket and hit the good areas. If you hit the good areas with the new ball you will get assistance off the pitch and for me length matters a lot. We are bowling as a unit and that’s the result you are getting to see. I always try to bowl in good areas and be in good rhythm. In big tournaments, once the rhythm goes away, it’s very tough to get it back,” said Shami.