Head Coach Gautam Gambhir Advices injured Shubman Gill to Rest by Skipping IPL and Prepare for International Matches

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Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his conversation with the team India head coach Gautam Gambhir about the workload management issues faced by Shubman Gill. It is reported that Gill suffered a neck injury in a recent match against South Africa, which has left him in doubt whether to appear in the second game of the series or not.

Gambhir Prioritizes National Duty Over League Cricket

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has made his stance on player workload clear in a conversation with Aakash Chopra. Speaking about Shubman Gill's workload, the coach suggested an unconventional approach to rest.

Aakash shared the head coach’s response in the following way:“I asked this question to Gautam Gambhir before the Test match against the West Indies. His point was that if you need workload management, then skip the IPL. If you don’t want to lead because leading the IPL team puts too much pressure, then don’t lead. And while playing for India, if you are fit, you are not mentally fatigued.”

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He further added, “And as a batter, I can also second the opinion that when you are going through a good form, you really want to maximise. Because you never know when the bad form hits you and where the next one is going to come from.”

Extending his short conversation, Aakash said Gambhir argued that “So, if there is no fitness concern per se and if there is no mental burnout concern that is very individual-specific, you stay with them and you play as much as you can, as often as you can.”

The Workload Debate: Gill's All-Format Commitments

Shubman Gill's growing responsibilities have fueled the workload management debate as he is one of the few Indian players who appear in all three international formats. 

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The young star currently captains the Test and ODI teams. He is also the vice-captain for the T20I side, which marks his busy schedule since the Asia Cup earlier in the year. He has played back-to-back matches, switching formats and traveling across different countries.

The 26-year-old acknowledged the struggle in a recent press conference and admitted that he is "still trying to figure out how to balance" his commitments. He noted the challenge is "definitely more mental than physical." This heavy calendar, along with his IPL captaincy, adds to the physical and mental stress.