The recent illness of a few Australian players during their India A tour has sparked a debate about food quality and player accommodation. But the BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has clarified that the issue did not stem from the food served at the team hotel. He stated that if the food had indeed been the cause, both Indian and Australian players would have fallen sick, since everyone had eaten the same meals.
The incident took place ahead of the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A, when four visiting players reportedly became unwell. Fast bowler Henry Thornton’s condition was serious enough for him to be admitted to Regency Hospital, where he was later stabilized. The episode quickly drew attention, with many questioning the arrangements made for the teams.
Rajeev Shukla, however, dismissed concerns in regard to poor facilities. He explained that the meals were prepared at Hotel Landmark, one of the best hotels in the area, and that no Indian player had shown any symptoms of food poisoning. According to him, the Australian players may have picked up an infection from another source. He added that such incidents can happen occasionally, especially in regions where accommodation options for large cricket contingents are limited.
Addressing comparisons with the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajeev Shukla clarified that franchise teams are solely responsible for their own hospitality arrangements. He said that in the IPL tournaments, franchises independently choose hotels and manage player logistics, while the BCCI plays no direct role in those decisions.
While health concerns made headlines, the cricket on the field continued to shine. In the final unofficial ODI in Kanpur, opener Prabhsimran Singh produced a brilliant 68-ball century, supported by strong knocks from captain Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag. Their efforts guided India A to a thrilling two-wicket win over Australia A, sealing a memorable finish to the series.
Rajeev Shukla assured that the situation with the ill players was being handled with care and that the facilities remained safe. His comments aimed to calm worries and reaffirm that both the teams were being looked after under proper medical supervision and top-class arrangements.
