India suffered an unexpected setback on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa as captain Shubman Gill was forced to retire hurt after suddenly experiencing sharp neck pain during his innings at the Eden Gardens.
The incident occurred in the 35th over when Gill, batting fluently, attempted an aggressive sweep against Simon Harmer. The shot was executed perfectly — a clean strike that raced away to the boundary — but the celebration ended abruptly as Gill immediately grabbed his neck in visible discomfort.
What initially looked like a routine attacking shot quickly turned worrying. Gill stayed down momentarily and then tried to stand, but his movements were stiff and restricted. The Indian physio rushed onto the field, and after a brief assessment, it became clear that the skipper was struggling to move his neck at all.
Unable to continue, Gill retired hurt and walked off, holding the side of his neck and appearing in considerable pain. His walk back to the dressing room was slow and tense, leaving Indian fans anxious about the severity of the injury.
As Gill exited, the crowd erupted in a loud cheer for Rishabh Pant, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter making his return to Test cricket after a long injury layoff. Pant walked in to join the innings, but concerns remained firmly on India’s captain.
The Indian camp has not yet issued an official update on Gill’s condition, but early signs suggest a possible neck spasm. Whether he can return later in the innings remains uncertain.
With a crucial Test series underway, Gill’s fitness has instantly become one of the biggest talking points of the match.
