The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday confirmed that Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati with the rest of the team for the second Test against South Africa, starting on 22 November. Gill suffered a neck injury while batting in the first Test in Kolkata and was hospitalised in the city.
The BCCI said Gill is responding well to treatment and has been cleared to fly from Kolkata to Guwahati.
Contrary to speculation, the board has not ruled out Gill’s participation in the second Test, stating that a decision on his availability will be taken closer to the match.
Gill was seen wearing a neck brace when he arrived at Kolkata airport on Wednesday morning, ensuring restricted movement around the injured area.
“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. He was kept under observation and discharged the next day,” the BCCI said.
“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,” it added.
India are desperate to have Gill fit for the second Test after South Africa shocked them by 30 runs in the series opener. India Today had reported on Monday that Gill would travel to Guwahati, but his participation in the second Test remained unlikely.
The injury occurred late on Day 2 at Eden Gardens when, moments after slog-sweeping Simon Harmer for four, Gill appeared to suffer a whiplash-like reaction and clutched the back of his neck, struggling to turn his head. After facing just three balls he retired hurt and was taken to a private hospital wearing a cervical collar as a precaution.
Former India captain and CAB president Sourav Ganguly visited him the following day, spoke to the medical staff and confirmed that the skipper was in good spirits despite the scare.
WHAT IF GILL IS NOT AVAILABLE?
India will be forced to reconsider their batting order if Shubman Gill is unavailable for the second Test. It remains to be seen whether they will risk playing Devdutt Padikkal or Sai Sudharsan, given they already fielded six left-handers in the XI for the series opener, which they lost by 30 runs. South African off-spinner Simon Harmer enjoyed the conditions and the match-ups, picking up eight wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the second innings. India failed to chase 124, getting bowled out for 93 in the last innings.
India missed Gill, the batter, in both innings as their batting fumbled in Kolkata.
Sai and Devdutt were seen training hard in Kolkata on Tuesday during an optional practice session, two days after India’s shock defeat at Eden Gardens.
India have also recalled Nitish Reddy to the squad, with the all-rounder — a right-handed batter — joining the team on Tuesday in Kolkata.
There is also the option of bringing in a right-hander from outside the squad.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra suggested Ruturaj Gaikwad as a potential replacement for Gill, arguing that India should avoid adding yet another left-hander to the line-up.
“Just in case he doesn’t become available, you will have to play someone. You have Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal sitting outside — two more left-handers. You already have six left-handers in the XI. Do you want to go with seven? You might want to change that,” Chopra said on his YouTube show.
India will be cautious about risking Gill in the second Test, considering his heavy workload. After featuring in the Asia Cup as the new T20I vice-captain, Gill played two home Tests against the West Indies before leading India in an ODI series in Australia. He then appeared in all five T20Is Down Under and immediately flew to Kolkata to join the Test squad for the series opener. Questions have already been raised about his workload and whether the skipper is being overused as an all-format player.
