Batsman Gambhir hit 55 in the first Twenty20 in Nagpur

Gautam Gambhir has become the second India player to contract swine flu and could miss Saturday’s second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka.

Bowler Sree Santh had already been ruled out of the match in Mohali and went to hospital.

Team manager Mayank Parekh was also admitted for treatment on Friday, while Gambhir and another member of the staff were checked by doctors on Saturday.

The rest of the India squad have been asked to take preventative measures.

Punjab Cricket Association chairman IS Bindra said that the checks on both Gambhir and the un-named staff member were “precautionary measures and purely an administrative decision.”

“It was not done on any medical advice. Both of them are in their hotel rooms now,” added Bindra.

Left-handed opening batsman Gambhir, 28, made his India debut in a one-day international against Bangladesh in April 2003 and has since played 27 Tests, 86 one-dayers and 18 Twenty20 internationals.

Santh is expected to be discharged from hospital on Sunday, but is likely to miss the first two one-dayers against Sri Lanka next week.

The lively pace bowler sat out the first Twenty20 match in Nagpur last Wednesday with what was first thought to be a viral infection, but later diagnosed as swine flu.

He was subsequently taken to hospital in Chandigarh.

The right-armer, who has played 16 Tests, 41 one-dayers and 10 Twenty20 internationals since his India debut in 2005, was recently recalled after an injury-hit 18-month absence from the national side.

A colourful figure with a history of disciplinary problems, he also had a spell with English county side Warwickshire towards the end of the 2009 season.

Sri Lanka won the first Twenty20 match by 29 runs last Wednesday.

Kumar Sangakkara’s highest Twenty20 international score of 78 helped the home side to 215-5 from their 20 overs, with India making 186-9.