Team India captain Shubman Gill is unlikely to feature in the second Test against South Africa, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 22 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The team management will have to prepare for the decisive match without their captain, and Sai Sudarshan may return to the playing eleven.
In the first innings of the Kolkata Test, Shubman Gill walked out after facing only three balls. He played no further role in the game and did not come out to bat during India’s second innings. Chasing the target of 124 runs, the hosts were bowled out for 93 runs in 35 overs and lost by 30 runs in the first match of the series.
Shubman Gill had to retire after getting injured in the first innings of Kolkata Test.
Gill came at number four in the first innings. He started his innings with a sweep for four runs, but the shot immediately left him with a sore neck. After talking to the medical staff for some time, the batsman left the field. Gill was taken to the hospital after the second day and was discharged the next day.
The right-handed batsman has frequent neck problems. In the last one year, he has suffered from stiffness and cramps several times, due to which he was unable to play the second T20 match against Sri Lanka and the first Test against New Zealand in 2024.
This issue has raised concerns about his workload. Gill has been playing consistently across all formats while also handling leadership responsibilities, which has led to increased scrutiny regarding his physical stress and recovery needs.
Shubman Gill likely to be ruled out of Guwahati Test due to neck spasm
According to RevSportz, Shubman is unlikely to be available for the second match. Medical assessment showed that doctors have advised at least five days of rest. Wearing a neck brace, he was clearly feeling uncomfortable as he walked out of Kolkata’s Woodlands Hospital on Sunday.
The reporter said, “He was also admitted to a private hospital, Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata, where we at RevSportz were giving you timely updates on what was happening. Later on Sunday evening, Shubman Gill was released, and we all saw the CCTV footage of him passing out inconveniently.”
“He came out with a neck brace, and what we heard later was that he was still in pain. The pain had not completely subsided, and the doctors advised five days’ rest. But the latest update is that Shubman Gill may be out of the second Test.”
Sai Sudarshan likely to return to playing XI for Guwahati Test
Shubman Gill’s availability for the next Test in Guwahati remains uncertain. The doctors want him to first start a set of neck strengthening exercises and only then will they be able to assess the timeline of his return.
It may take at least five to seven days for the batsman to be ready to play again. The ODI series against South Africa begins on November 30 and he is expected to regain fitness in time for that assignment.
In Gill’s absence, Sai Sudarshan is the most likely option to return to the eleven for the Guwahati Test. The selectors will also have to decide whether to consider players like Ruturaj Gaikwad or Sarfaraz Khan.
The team is already under pressure after losing the opening Test to South Africa and there is a possibility of another series defeat at home. It is noteworthy that India had to face 0-3 defeat against New Zealand at home last year.
Also read: No Rohit Sharma! India’s captain for South Africa ODI finalized after Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer’s exit