NEW DELHI: Not long after the second day’s play concluded in Lucknow between Mumbai and Rest of India in Irani Trophy, Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur was rushed to a local hospital due to high fever. The bowler, who proved handy lower down the order with 36 runs in a 73-run ninth-wicket stand with double centurion Sarfaraz Khan (221 not out), played through with a 102 degree Fahrenheit fever at the Ekana Stadium, reports The Indian Express.
Thakur had already complained of mild fever on the first day, but it got worse after spending nearly two hours in the middle.
Twice he took breaks to allow the team doctor to rush in and tend to him. The Mumbai team management later took him to a hospital, where he was kept under observation. The doctors are then due to take a decision whether he will be fit to continue the contest or not.
“He was not feeling well for the entire day and was running on high fever, which was the main reason he came out to bat late. He was feeling weak and he slept in the dressing room after taking medicine.
“But he wanted to bat despite feeling low. We have got his blood test done for malaria and dengue. We are waiting for the results. Till then, he will spend the night in hospital,” a source was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Despite fever and fatigue, he faced 59 balls and hit four fours and a six during his stay in the middle. This was his first domestic match after recovering from a foot surgery, for which he had undergone surgery in London in June.
He had picked up the injury during the Ranji Trophy last season, but played through the pain and was pivotal for his team’s title march. But the injury re-emerged during India’s tour of South Africa.
With India due to tour Australia later this year in a five-match series, he would be keen to reinforce his value this domestic season.
