Guwahati: India captain Shubman Gill is facing a race against time to be fit for the second Test against South Africa, with officials indicating that he will not be travelling with the squad to Guwahati on Wednesday. His participation in the match, which begins Saturday, has become increasingly doubtful as the medical team continues to monitor his condition.
Sources within the Cricket Association of Bengal confirmed that Gill has been advised strict rest after developing acute neck pain during the first Test in Kolkata. The injury has required him to wear a neck collar, and doctors have reportedly recommended that he avoid air travel for at least the next three to four days.
With the team slated to fly out midweek, Gill’s absence from the travelling party strongly suggests that India may need to prepare for the second Test without their skipper. “He has acute neck pain… he has been advised rest and not to take a flight. As of now, travel to Guwahati is not recommended,” a source familiar with the situation said, adding that the medical staff will reassess him on Tuesday.
Gill’s condition has been under scrutiny since he was taken to hospital after retiring hurt on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test, facing only three balls before walking off. The BCCI later confirmed that he would play no further part in the match, and he was discharged on Sunday evening. This setback is not his first neck-related issue — he had also missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a similar spasm.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, speaking after India’s 30-run defeat in Kolkata, said the opener was “still being evaluated,” with another round of assessments scheduled by the team physio and doctors. Gill’s absence in the fourth innings had already left India one batter short during their unsuccessful chase of 124.
If he does not recover in time, India may turn to either B Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal as replacement options. Sudharsan, who made an impressive 87 on debut against West Indies, had moderate returns in India A’s recent tour of South Africa. Padikkal, meanwhile, remains in the mix as another top-order candidate.
Gill’s injury comes during a period of heavy workload: he has been playing non-stop cricket across formats since the 2025 IPL and was among the players who joined the Test squad just two days after completing India’s T20I series in Brisbane.
With the second Test only days away, India’s management is expected to make a final call based on Gill’s response to treatment over the next 24 hours.
