It took only three balls for Shubman Gill’s return to red-ball cricket to stall. The India opener, playing the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, felt for the back of his neck after slog-sweeping Simon Harmer for four and walked off immediately for treatment.
“Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progress,” the board confirmed midway through the first session.
India were 75-2 at the time, and the hush that followed his departure contrasted sharply with the cheer that greeted him moments earlier. Television replays showed Gill grimacing as he rose from his follow-through, helmet off, hand pressing the base of his neck. The team physio dashed out, but after a brief chat the 26-year-old decided not to risk another ball. He headed straight to the dressing-room, still massaging the area.
Footage from the warm-up had hinted at trouble. “It looks like he was carrying this since morning,” Murali Kartik observed on air. “You can see him trying to make sure it [the neck] was nice and supple.” The suggestion is Gill felt stiffness during pre-match drills yet backed his chances of batting, only for the sweep to aggravate the spasm.
Rishabh Pant was summoned as the concussion substitute laws do not apply to muscular injuries. Pant lasted 27 deliveries before edging Lungi Ngidi, leaving India 138-4 at lunch and still 21 behind South Africa’s modest 159. Earlier, KL Rahul and Washington Sundar had fallen cheaply, while Yashasvi Jaiswal was lbw on the first evening.
If Gill’s condition improves quickly he could resume his innings later in the match; if not, India’s top order will have to cope without a batsman averaging 45 in Tests. Neck spasms generally settle within a day or two, though recurrence can be an issue, especially for players who favour forceful horizontal-bat strokes.
For South Africa, Harmer’s tidy spell and Ngidi’s late burst have opened an unexpected door. India, meanwhile, wait on medical updates and hope a promising start to the home season has not suffered an early jolt.
