In a relief for Indian fans, opening batter Abhishek Sharma has been discharged from hospital after being treated for a stomach infection. However, his participation in Thursday’s T20 World Cup match against Namibia has not yet been confirmed.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Indian cricketer Tilak Varma said that no final decision has been taken regarding Abhishek’s availability.
“Abhishek has been discharged from the hospital today. There is still time to take a call on his participation in tomorrow’s match,” Tilak told reporters.
Abhishek was dismissed on the first ball during India’s opening match against the USA in Mumbai on Saturday and did not take further part in the game. Sanju Samson replaced him on the field. It is believed that his health deteriorated during the match and worsened after the team arrived in Delhi.
Focus on Pakistan Clash
While the match against Namibia remains important, India’s bigger focus is the high-voltage clash against Pakistan on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The pitch conditions there are expected to be different, and Pakistan have already won both their matches so far.
A stomach infection can affect strength and stamina, raising questions about whether Abhishek will be fit enough to travel on Friday, train on Saturday, and play on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson was seen batting extensively at the nets on Tuesday and spent considerable time with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, indicating that the team management is keeping its options ready in case Abhishek is not fully fit.
However, the Indian team management remains hopeful that the 25-year-old opener will recover completely before the crucial encounter against Pakistan.
Notably, Abhishek attended a dinner hosted by head coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday but left earlier than the rest of his teammates, suggesting that he is still in recovery mode.
