In a major setback ahead of the series decider, India captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the opening Test in Kolkata, has not recovered in time despite showing early signs of improvement.
Gill was retired hurt in the first innings after appearing in discomfort following a sweep shot. He did not bat in India’s second innings and was taken for precautionary scans. Although he travelled with the team to Guwahati on Wednesday and was seen without neck support, medical assessments have confirmed that he will miss the match.
Who will captain India now?
With Gill unavailable, vice-captain Rishabh Pant will lead Team India in the second Test starting Saturday. Pant had stepped in temporarily during the Kolkata Test as well.
Is Sai Sudharsan playing?
Yes, left-handed top-order batter Sai Sudharsan is in line to replace Gill in the playing XI, according to reports from The Indian Express. Sudharsan trained during India’s optional session alongside Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Devdutt Padikkal.
Gill’s recovery timeline
Gill is expected to start neck exercises from Thursday. His recovery is likely to take about a week, making him a probable returnee for the ODI series beginning November 30.
Match context
India trail 0–1 in the two-match series after South Africa’s 30-run win in the opener. The Guwahati Test is a must-win affair for Rohit Sharma’s side.
In a first for Test cricket, all five days of the Guwahati Test will start at 9 a.m., with tea scheduled before lunch, reversing the usual break sequence.
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