Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Nov 17: India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has been released from a Kolkata hospital after receiving treatment for a neck spasm sustained during the opening Test against South Africa. However, his participation in the second Test in Guwahati, starting Saturday, remains uncertain.
Although India have a training session scheduled in Kolkata on Tuesday, Gill is unlikely to join, ESPNcricinfo reported. The team will fly to Guwahati on Wednesday, but given that commercial air travel is typically avoided for those recovering from neck issues, Gill is not expected to travel with the squad.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, reflecting on India’s 30-run defeat in the low-scoring first Test, said Gill is “still being assessed,” with further evaluations planned by the medical team. India were effectively a batter short in the decisive fourth innings after Gill’s withdrawal, which contributed to their collapse for 93 while chasing a modest 124.
Gambhir acknowledged the setback: “We always knew we were one down. Without Shubman, and then losing two before lunch, we were virtually three down. A couple of partnerships—maybe a 50-run stand or two 40-run stands—could have kept us in the contest.”
If Gill is unavailable for the Guwahati Test, India may turn to left-handers B. Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal. Sudharsan impressed against the West Indies with scores of 87 and 39, but managed only a best of 32 in four innings for India A against South Africa A. Padikkal, who has played one Test each in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the England series, had a lean run on the recent A tour with three single-digit scores.
Selecting either batter would add yet another left-hander to the XI—potentially making it seven. India already fielded six left-handers in the first Test, a first in their history, and South African offspinner Simon Harmer exploited the match-up, claiming six of his eight wickets against them. Part-time offspinner Aiden Markram also removed a left-hander.
Gill was taken to hospital after retiring hurt early in India’s first innings, having faced only three balls. The BCCI later confirmed he would take no further part in the match. His latest fitness concern comes amid ongoing workload management, with the captain having played continuously across formats since IPL 2025 and travelling directly from Australia to Kolkata after the T20I series.