Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Team India opener Abhishek Sharma missed the team’s first training session in New Delhi due to illness on Tuesday. According to a report from Cricbuzz, he is also suffering from stomach problems, and his availability for the next match against Namibia remains uncertain.Abhishek had a tough start to the tournament, getting out for a golden duck against the USA.
He also did not take the field while the USA were batting, with Sanju Samson replacing him, which raised questions about his fitness. Ahead of the Namibia match, India coach Gautam Gambhir hosted a team dinner, but Abhishek was seen leaving early, adding to concerns over his health.After the USA match, Mohammed Siraj confirmed Abhishek’s condition, saying, “Abhishek Sharma has an upset tummy, that’s why he didn’t field. He will be back fine.” Jasprit Bumrah also missed the USA game due to illness.India might choose to rest Abhishek to ensure he is fully fit for the high-profile clash against Pakistan on February 15. If that happens, Sanju Samson could be recalled to open the batting and get some match practice.Abhishek is considered a key player for India. The 25-year-old has been in explosive form in T20Is, with a strike rate close to 200, and is known for giving India fast starts at the top of the order. Despite his failure against the USA, the team management values his impact and hopes he returns soon.India still won their opening match against the USA by 29 runs after recovering from a batting collapse. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a brilliant unbeaten 84, while Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh led the bowling effort to secure the win.
