Indore, Jan 17: Team India players, led by captain Shubman Gill, brought a specialized water purification machine to their hotel in Indore primarily due to a local water contamination crisis in the city.
Even though Indore is consistently ranked as India’s cleanest city, recent reports in January 2026 highlighted a public health emergency involving contaminated drinking water that led to several illnesses and fatalities in the region.
Reports indicate it is a high-end, medical-grade water purifier valued at approximately Rs. 3 lakh. The device is reportedly capable of re-purifying even RO-filtered and packaged bottled water provided by the hotel. This ensures the removal of any remaining bacteria, heavy metals, or impurities.
With the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand being highly competitive (currently tied at 1-1), the BCCI and the team management are taking extreme measures to ensure no player falls ill due to waterborne diseases, which could derail the team’s performance.
As the captain and a key batter, Gill reportedly had the machine installed specifically in his room to maintain a strict health protocol during the stay. The team is in Indore for the decisive 3rd ODI against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium, and this move reflects the high stakes of the match where player fitness is the top priority.
