New Delhi: Flamboyant Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been discharged after being hospitalised for two days with a stomach infection, leaving him doubtful for the T20 World Cup match against Namibia here Thursday.
In the pre-match press conference here, his teammate Tilak Varma said a decision on the swashbuckling opener’s participation in tomorrow’s game has not yet been taken.
“Abhishek has been discharged today. There is still time to decide on his participation for tomorrow’s game,” Varma told reporters here.
Abhishek was out for a duck against the USA in the opening game Saturday in Mumbai and took no further part after that, with Sanju Samson replacing him while fielding.
It is learnt that he was unwell during that match, and his condition worsened after reaching Delhi.
The priority for India isn’t the Namibia game but the February 15 match against a steadily improving Pakistan team at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo where the strip would be slightly different.
A stomach infection is known to affect stamina and endurance, and it remains to be seen if Abhishek will be in a position to travel Friday, train Saturday and take the field Sunday.
Samson did bat in the nets Tuesday and spent a lot of time with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, an indication that the team management is keeping its options ready in case Abhishek fails to regain full fitness.
But the Indian team management is hopeful of having him on the park come Sunday.
It has been learnt that the 25-year-old attended the dinner at head coach Gautam Gambhir’s home here Sunday but left much earlier than the rest of his teammates.
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