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India National Cricket Team’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill's repeated cramping problems have come under heavy scrutiny after his Gujarat Titans teammate Jos Buttler hinted that there could be more behind the issue than simple muscle cramps.
Gill has struggled with the different types of cramps several times recently. The issue reignited after the Indian skipper battled painful calf and hamstring cramps during the first ODI against England at Edgbaston on July 14. He was batting brilliantly on 80 before he was forced to retire hurt. Amid this, Shubman Gill closes gap with Daryl Mitchell; Joe Root rises two spots in ODI rankings.
Stuart Broad questions Shubman Gill's recurring cramps
However, medical scans later confirmed there was no major injury, but once again, he suffered cramps during the final ODI, but he managed to continue and hammered a 77-run knock at Lord’s. Notably, India lost that game by 27 runs to suffer a 1-2 ODI series loss to England.
Now, the former England fast bowler Stuart Broad raised the issue when he sat with the former England captain Jos Buttler on their podcast. He asked Buttler about Shubman Gill's repeated cramping during the recent ODI series between India and England.
Broad also pointed out that Gill seemed to lose his rhythm after crossing 70 runs in both Birmingham and Lord's and wondered what could be causing the problem.
Jos Buttler opens up on Shubman Gill's fitness scare
Well, Jos Buttler admitted he was also surprised by Gill's situation. Buttler even revealed that he had asked Shreyas Iyer during the match whether Gill was suffering from cramps.
Jos Buttler told Stuart Broad on the For The Love of Cricket podcast, “I don't know, actually. I was, you sort of don't really engage with him too much in the batting, but I was asking, I think it was Shreyas Iyer, "Has he got a cramp?" He said, "Yeah, he's just got a cramp." I was there.”
The Englishman was surprised when Shreyas Iyer told him that his Gujarat Titans captain suffered the cramps because the matches were being played in England, where the weather was much cooler than the extreme heat in which Gill often bats in India.
He said, “He's only got 70 or 80, and he's in England. It's not the 40 degrees of heat of Ahmedabad that he's used to batting in. But no, I don't know actually really what was going on there.”
Buttler hints at possible underlying injury
Buttler then hinted that there could be an underlying injury behind Gill's repeated physical struggles. Amid this, Alastair Cook clashes with RCB's Dinesh Karthik, Mo Bobat over Jacob Bethell debate.
He signed off by saying, “Maybe he's got an underlying injury or something. I don't know, but you're right. It maybe did slow him down a bit and got him out at a crucial time at Lord's. I was talking earlier about when people's records come up on the big screen, when they come out. Oh, it's a joke, isn't it? Shubman averages 60 odd.”
Stuart broad :- Your skipper of GT Shubman Gill, every time he gets a 70s, he is cramming up in Birmingham and Lords, he lost his rhythm in both innings, what can he do about that?
— Indian Cricket 🏏 (@navshar54008403) July 21, 2026
Jos Buttler :- I don't know...he got only 70 & 80 but He's in England & it is not the 40*C of… pic.twitter.com/SmG9TVJM7u
Shubman Gill's recent cramps and injury history
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill's recurring muscle problems have now become a growing concern for India. Many felt this issue is linked to the severe dengue infection he suffered just before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
At that time, Gill reportedly lost around 6 to 8 kilograms of muscle mass, and then dengue can sometimes leave long-term effects on muscle strength and recovery.
July 2026 vs England: Retired hurt on 80 at Edgbaston with calf and hamstring cramps; cramps returned during his 77 at Lord's.
June 2026 vs Afghanistan): Suffered severe body cramps in Lucknow and batted wearing an ice collar.
April 2026 in IPL: Missed Gujarat Titans matches due to recurring neck spasms.
November 2025 vs South Africa: Hospitalised after acute neck spasms forced him off just three balls into his Test innings.
2023 ODI World Cup semi-final vs New Zealand: Retired hurt after suffering leg cramps during the knockout clash.
