Guwahati: In what many consider extremely bad news, Team India captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa that will start in Guwahati from Saturday.
Vice-captain Rishabh Pant will now lead the side.
While Gill, with a neck brace on, did fly to Guwahati from Kolkata with the rest of the team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released him from the squad on Friday.
Gill, who has been dealing with a neck spasm, flew to Mumbai in the morning to consult a specialist for further assessment and injury management.
While everyone is praying for the young captain’s quick recovery, they are also worried about losing a batter of his quality in the crucial Test. South Africa is already sitting pretty with a 1-0 lead in the two match series.
According to reports, the star batter did not train with the team on Thursday and had been scheduled to undergo a final fitness test on Friday in a late bid to prove his fitness. However, the medical team advised against taking any risks, prompting his withdrawal from the match.
Gill suffered a neck injury, after facing only three deliveries, on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day’s play.
“He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. He travelled to Guwahati on 19th November, 2025. Unfortunately, he was not fully fit to feature in the 2nd Test and will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury. Rishabh Pant will lead the team in the 2nd Test in Gill’s absence,” the BCCI said in a statement.
India eventually lost the Test at Eden Gardens by 30 runs, bowled out for 93 while chasing 124 on a surface offering uneven bounce. Gill had previously missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a similar neck issue. The Kiwis had given India a 3-0 drubbing in that series.
Team India now face a selection dilemma as they consider options to replace Gill. The squad is saturated with left-hand batters. Six featured in the XI in Kolkata, with five in the top eight, and both Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, the leading contenders to enter the side, also bat left-handed. The left-heavy order played into the hands of off-spinner Simon Harmer, who was named Player of the Match in Kolkata.
Sai Sudharsan is the frontrunner to open in Gill’s absence, while Nitish Reddy is expected to come into the XI in place of Axar Patel.
India’s Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had certainly hoped for Gill to return to the playing XI, but said that there are plenty of options if he can’t.
“If he is missing out because of injury, we have batters and plenty of good players. They are professionals; they should come and perform for the team. We all wish he plays, but if he doesn’t, we will definitely have a good replacement – and maybe the guy coming in will score a hundred,” Kotak had said before the BCCI announcement.
