Team India have their backs pushed against the wall in the two-match Test series against reigning WTC champions South Africa. They have already lost the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata last week by 30 runs and need to win in the second game at Guwahati starting on Saturday to level the series.
The home side suffered a big blow with their skipper Shubman Gill ruled out of the first Test due to a neck injury. Gill had to retire hurt on 4 after injuring his neck and was unavailable to bat in the second innings as the Indian failed to chase down 124 to win.
Now just before Indian team's departure for Guwahati on Wednesday (November 19), they received some good news from the BCCI about the health and fitness of Gill. "Team India captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test against South Africa and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day's play," a BCCI statement read.
"He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly," the statement added.
If Gill fails to recover from his injury in time to take the field in Guwahati, his Gujarat Titans teammate Sai Sudharsan may replace him in the playing 11. But that will also mean that Indian side will add another left-handed batter to the mix already overflowing with southpaws.
If Gill misses out for Guwahati Test, it will be a huge loss for the Indian side. Gill is India's leading run-scorer in Test cricket in 2025 with 983 runs in 9 games at an average of 70.21 with 5 hundreds and 1 fifty.
Rishabh Pant will have to take over the Indian captaincy for the first time in Test format if Gill fails to take part in the second Test. Pant is himself coming back from injury and played his first international game since July this year where he had fractured his leg.