Gautam Gambhir & Suryakumar Yadav Urged: Don't rush Abhishek Sharma back for IND vs PAK Clash - Prioritize full recovery!

The young southpaw is currently recovering from a severe stomach bug and viral fever that necessitated a brief hospital stay earlier this week.

As India prepares for the high voltage T20 World Cup encounter against Pakistan on February 15, the availability of destructive opener Abhishek Sharma remains the primary concern for captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The young southpaw is currently recovering from a severe stomach bug and viral fever that necessitated a brief hospital stay earlier this week, leading to noticeable weight loss and his absence from the recent fixture against Namibia.

Expert Advice from Aaron Finch

While the magnitude of an India versus Pakistan match often prompts teams to field their best XI at any cost, former Australian captain Aaron Finch has urged the Indian management to prioritize long term fitness. Finch, who led Australia to the T20 World Cup title in 2021, believes that rushing Sharma back could jeopardize his availability for the business end of the tournament.

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“No, they’re stacked enough, no doubt about that. Sanju at the top, he got off to a flyer last night, along with Ishan. As big as the game is, I think India would have their eye on the Super 8s, the semi-final, and the final. So, to me, if Abhishek is still under the weather and you don’t want to take a risk, that’s totally fine, because you understand that you can’t win the tournament in this first phase, but you can certainly lose it," Finch stated during an interaction with India Today.