Shubman Gill, the India Test captain, will not play against South Africa in the Guwahati Test. On November 22, the second Test of the two-match series is set to start.
While at the crease during India’s first innings at the Eden Gardens, Gill experienced a neck spasm. He was brought to a local hospital for additional evaluation following the day’s play after retiring not-out on Day 2 of the test. Gill was released the next day after his progress was tracked over the course of the night.
On November 19, the top-order batsman even made the trip to Guwahati. He hasn’t become match fit, though, therefore he won’t be able to lead the team. Gill is scheduled to travel to Mumbai to assess the full extent of his injury, while Rishabh Pant will serve as the interim captain.
Sitanshu Kotak, the batting coach for India, had earlier stated that the squad would not take the chance of playing a half-fit Gill since that could make the injury worse.
During a news conference, Kotak had stated, “He is definitely recovering really well,” “Tomorrow night, a decision will be made regarding whether or not to play him. The physicians and physiotherapists will have to make the decision that he shouldn’t experience that spasm during the game, even if he is totally recovered.
He will play if we can ensure that he won’t experience this problem in the future. He will undoubtedly rest [for] one more game if there is any uncertainty because playing [would not benefit the squad].”
When Gill hit a boundary on the third ball of his innings, he was instantly observed twitching his neck.
Before he made the decision to walk back injured, the physiotherapist attended to him. Since India was left a batter short in both innings and vice-captain Pant took over in Gill’s absence, he did not bat again throughout the match.
Speaking of how the game went, India had taken a 30-run lead in the first innings before the Proteas were bowled out for 153 in the second. Despite Gill not batting, they were dismissed for 93 for the lost of nine wickets. The South African spinners, led by Simon Harmer (4/21 in 14 overs), successfully defended an improbable 124-run goal they had set for the hosts, with only four players scoring in double figures.
There will be a lot of attention on Pant and how he leads the squad in a match that is vital to India’s 2025–2027 cycle of the World Test Championship now that Gill’s absence has been confirmed. After suffering a foot injury during the England tour earlier in the year, the wicketkeeper-batter did not have the best of games (27 off 24 and 2 off 13) in his comeback international match.
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