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Prominent cricket analyst and former cricketer, Aakash Chopra, has raised questions about the lack of clarity surrounding young batter Shubman Gill's fitness status. Gill was noticeably absent from India's opening match against Australia in the World Cup 2023, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, due to a reported bout of dengue.
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"Shubman Gill is ill. He has not yet become fit. The Indian team have decided that they will not tell us clearly, that we can keep thinking, we can say it is dengue or whatever we feel like but they will not tell us," Chopra was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
"When he is not traveling and didn't come to the ground in the last match, it means he is not in such a good position. The Indian team had claimed that he was getting better, was feeling very well, and that they would decide at the last moment. He is not even fit to go to Delhi and you were saying that you were monitoring him in Chennai," he added.
India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, had previously mentioned that the team was optimistic about Gill's recovery. Contrarily, an update from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Gill would not be joining the squad for their upcoming match against Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, in Delhi.
Adding to the concerns, recent buzz indicates Gill's admission to a hospital in Chennai. If Gill remains unfit for the matches ahead, it seems Ishan Kishan, despite his recent duck against Australia, could be the one stepping up as the opener for India against Afghanistan.
The Indian team commenced their World Cup 2023 journey on a positive note, securing a convincing six-wicket victory against Australia. The triumph was significantly aided by impressive performances from Virat Kohli, who scored 85 runs, and KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten with a stellar 97.
Aakash Chopra's critique underscores the cricketing community's desire for more transparency regarding player health and fitness updates, particularly during prestigious tournaments like the World Cup. With the weight of the nation's expectations on their shoulders, the Indian team and the BCCI might need to be more forthcoming with information to maintain trust and keep the fans informed.
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