Shubman Gill, the young and promising Indian cricketer, recently made a remarkable comeback to the Indian cricket team after battling a bout of dengue. However, despite his impressive performances on the field, he revealed that he is not yet at full fitness, having lost four kilos due to his illness.
Gill had to miss India’s initial two matches in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 but made a triumphant return during the high-stakes clash against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Since then, he has been a part of five consecutive matches, steadily regaining his form with the bat.
In a post-match interview after India’s convincing victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai, Gill candidly admitted, “Not full fitness. I am four kilos down from dengue in terms of mass and muscle weight.” Despite this setback, he managed to contribute significantly to the team’s success.
Gill’s journey in the World Cup has been a mix of ups and downs. He scored 16 runs against Pakistan but then showcased his prowess with a half-century against Bangladesh. He followed up with scores of 26 and 9 before delivering a confident 92 against Sri Lanka, helping India amass a formidable total of 357/8 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking about the pitch conditions, Gill shared his opinion, saying, “I honestly don’t think it was a 400 wicket. We batted well to get 350. Shreyas (Iyer) was the key today. He batted superbly.” The partnership between Virat Kohli, who scored 88 off 94 balls, and Iyer, who played a blazing 56-ball 83, provided the late impetus that India needed.
However, the Indian bowlers played an equally crucial role in the victory. Jasprit Bumrah set the tone by dismissing Pathum Nissanka with the very first delivery of the match, sending him back to the pavilion for a golden duck. Mohammed Siraj quickly followed suit with a wicket off his first delivery as well, and Mohammed Shami stole the show with an impressive five-wicket haul.
Gill praised the bowlers, saying, “The way they were bowling we were anticipating wickets. Siraj is always fired up. They were sensational.”