Guwahati (Rajeev Sharma): India captain Shubman Gill is unlikely to feature in the second Test against South Africa after being advised against travelling with the squad due to a neck injury. Team and association officials have indicated that he will remain in Kolkata for further rest and observation as the side departs for Guwahati on Wednesday.
According to officials from the Cricket Association of Bengal, Gill continues to experience sharp neck pain and has been instructed to keep a stabilising collar on at all times. Medical staff have restricted him from flying for several days, making his participation in the final Test of the series increasingly uncertain.
“He has been told to rest completely for three to four days,” a source said, noting that a more concrete update is expected after the next medical evaluation on Tuesday. The Indian squad has an optional training session scheduled before their departure.
Gill’s injury occurred during the Kolkata Test when he retired hurt after facing only three deliveries in the first innings. He was taken to hospital later that day and was ruled out of the remainder of the match by the BCCI on the following morning. He was discharged on Sunday evening but continues to be monitored closely.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, speaking after India’s narrow 30-run defeat, said the medical unit is still assessing the skipper. His absence left India short of a seasoned batter in a tense fourth-innings chase that fell apart despite a modest target of 124.
Should Gill be officially ruled out, India will look toward backup options B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. Sudharsan made a promising debut earlier in the year but had mixed outings during India A’s recent series in South Africa. Padikkal, meanwhile, has been part of the extended squad and remains a viable top-order inclusion.
This setback comes amid concerns about Gill’s workload. The opener has been on an intense cricketing schedule across formats since the conclusion of IPL 2025 and joined the Test unit almost immediately after India’s T20I assignment in Brisbane. Notably, this is his second neck-related issue in recent months, having missed a Test in October 2024 with a similar problem.
With the second Test set to begin on Saturday, the team management is expected to take a call based on Gill’s condition over the next day. For now, India are preparing for the possibility of entering a crucial match without their captain.
