A moment of concern struck the Indian dressing room and the Eden Gardens crowd on Day 2 of the India vs South Africa 1st Test, as captain Shubman Gill was forced to walk off the field after appearing to injure his neck during play.
The incident unfolded in the 35th over, when Gill, looking in sublime touch, went for an attacking sweep shot. Facing Simon Harmer, he connected cleanly and sent the ball over backward square for four. But almost immediately after completing the stroke, Gill was seen holding his neck in discomfort.
The skipper remained down briefly before receiving attention from the physio. Despite the boundary, the pain was visibly sharp — Gill stood up stiffly, unable to move his neck, prompting medical staff to walk in for assessment. Moments later, he began walking back to the dressing room, looking uncomfortable and clutching the right side of his neck.
As Gill made his way off the field, the Eden Gardens crowd shifted its focus to the man replacing him — Rishabh Pant, who received a massive roar upon arrival. Pant, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, is making his return after the injury that kept him out of action during the England tour, making his entry all the more emotional for the fans.
Gill’s early exit leaves a question mark over India’s batting plans for the remainder of the innings. The nature of the injury is yet to be officially confirmed, but the Indian camp will hope it’s only a minor neck spasm and that the captain can resume batting later in the day.
For now, all eyes remain on the Indian skipper’s condition — a crucial factor as India look to set the tone in this two-match Test series.
