Shubman Gill’s sore neck has not cleared up in time for the second Test against South Africa, starting Saturday in Guwahati. The BCCI confirmed on Friday morning that the opener “will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury,” ending any faint hopes he might take the field up north. Rishabh Pant, who stepped in after Gill withdrew mid-match in Kolkata, stays on as India captain.
The issue, put simply, is risk. Medical staff fear another bout of neck spasms if Gill returns too early, and nobody wants a repeat of Kolkata, where he faced three balls, retired hurt, and watched India slide to a 30-run defeat on an up-and-down surface. He had a similar spasm last October against New Zealand, so the caution is understandable.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak spelt it out on Thursday. “He is definitely recovering really well,” Kotak said. “Now, the decision [whether to play him or not] will be taken tomorrow evening. The physios, doctors, they will have to take a call that, [even] if he is fully recovered, [during the] game, he should not get that spasm again.” A few minutes later he added: “[…] If we have a, guarantee that, very likely, he won’t have this issue again, then he will play. If there is a doubt, then I am sure, he will take rest [for] one more game, because it won’t be helpful to the team [if he plays].”
No replacement opener has been drafted, so one of B Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal or the all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to partner Rohit Sharma at the top. Each has first-class runs, albeit in modest sample sizes; Sudharsan’s compact technique probably nudges him ahead, but the final call will come after the last training session.
Pant’s elevation to permanent stand-in—if that is a phrase—adds its own intrigue. Former selector Saba Karim, speaking on a television panel, was upbeat: “Exciting times,” he said, suggesting Pant’s “unpredictable” leadership could jolt a squad that looked flat in Kolkata. Pant’s wicketkeeping remains a work in progress, yet his authority in the dressing room is well-known, and he will not mind fronting up after last week’s collapse.
Another layer is white-ball selection. India name their ODI squad on 23 November, and Gill’s place for the three-match series, starting 30 November, is suddenly shaky. A full fortnight of rehab might see him ready, but the medical team will decide, not sentiment.
For now, India reshuffle again. Rohit, Pant, and perhaps a debutant opener carry the top order, while South Africa, 1-0 ahead, sniff a rare away series win. And Gill? He swaps the humidity of Assam for a clinic in Mumbai, hoping the next scan offers better news.
