“It started with cramps and then I pulled my hamstring a little bit and I think these are just the… it was quite humid and just the after effects of Dengue,” Shubman Gill said at the post-match presser on the cramps which forced him to retire hurt in the semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede on November 15.
On a very hot and humid day in Mumbai, the first effect on Gill’s body was felt during the official drinks interval after the 15th over. Official is the keyword here because both Gill and Virat Kohli took numerous hydration and change of gloves breaks in between the overs but end of over No.15 allowed them a much needed breather.
Out came Ishan Kishan with two white plastic chairs, an umbrella and lot of cold towels. Both batters then signalled for caps, wiped excess sweat off their face and used another cold towel before getting back to business. The pair continued with the assault for another seven overs, with Gill doing the bulk of scoring, but the youngster was on the ground in the 23rd over and the physios rushed out.
The left leg had bothered him earlier in the contest too but it didn’t look that bad as he was back on his feet after some minor stretching during the drinks break and then after the 20th over. The final round of attention, however, looked bad, really bad as he was limping and just couldn’t walk.
Gill decided he couldn’t continue and took the painful limp back to the dressing room with help of the support staff. It was a moment of big worry then but when he returned to bat in the final over, there was a collective sigh of relief.
Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.
‘Lost a few kilos’
Gill was batting beautifully on 79 before cramps cut short his innings and denied him what could have been his maiden World Cup hundred. He was India’s in-form player before the World Cup got underway but an unfortunate bout with dengue not only robbed him of game time but made him very weak. The weakness was visible when he had his first net session ahead of Pakistan game and during the hour-long hit, his first public session, Gill looked a bit exhausted.
The classy opener has not missed a game after the first two but has certainly missed the physical fitness he enjoyed before the sickness.
By his own admission in Pune, he “lost a few kilos” but was hopeful of gaining them back. After every net session, he was growing in confidence and fitness but the hot and humid conditions were going to be his ultimate test.
Ahead of the game vs South Africa in Kolkata, coach Rahul Dravid said they underestimated the kind of effect dengue had on Gill’s body.
“It was just a little unfortunate for him that he picked up dengue at the start of the tournament. And it’s taken him a little bit of time to get over that. I think we underestimate. You underestimate the kind of effect something like that can have on you, and then having to come out and play in the heat and travel. And it’s been quite a hectic tournament as well. So sometimes you do underestimate how much of an impact that can have on your body,” said Dravid.
Prior to the World Cup, Gill was in red hot form and had runs in the Asia Cup, ODI series vs Australia but was not off the blocks in usual fashion in the multi-nation tournament. The sickness did interrupt his continuity and it took him four innings to get a big score against his name.
‘Reserve has gone down a bit’
The 92 vs Sri Lanka did do his confidence a world of good as he followed it up with a half-century vs Netherlands and 80* vs New Zealand. Batting wise, Gill hasn’t made any change but the lack of muscle mass has certainly affected his endurance.
“I have honestly not really adjusted anything in terms of my batting but because I have lost a bit of muscle mass, I think the reserve that I used to have before the dengue has decreased a little bit and that’s why generally I don’t really get cramps when, like you do get cramps when you’re playing in humid conditions. But for me happens after a long period of time, not so soon. But because I think I’ve lost a bit of muscle mass; the reserve has gone down a bit,” said Gill after the semi-final vs Mumbai.
With 350 runs in 8 innings, Gill is the only one out of India’s top-five to not feature in top fifteen run-getters in the tournament but he was a bit late to the party due to sickness. Now that he is on the floor, India would hope he serves a blockbuster performance in the Last Dance at the venue where he has enjoyed a lot of success.
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