Indian captain Shubman Gill is doubtful for the second Test against South Africa, which is scheduled to take place at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22 to 26. According to a report
in RevSportz on Saturday, the 26-year-old right-handed batter from Punjab, who retired hurt on Saturday morning due to severe neck pain, is in doubt for the second red-ball match of the ongoing India-South Africa series after being admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata.
As per available information, Gill will take a few days to get fit, and due to that reason, he may not feature in the second Test.
Gill, who scored 4 runs from three balls in the morning session of the second day’s play before deciding to return back to the dugout, experienced severe neck pain on Saturday and was admitted to the hospital. He was kept under observation, and as per RevSportz, Gill was monitored through the night.
“Gill has been administered medicines, but it will take a few days for him to be fit. This puts his participation in the second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati in doubt,” RevSportz reported.
In Gill’s absence, Rishabh Pant led the side during the second day’s play, and he will captain the side in the Guwahati Test as well if Gill skips that fixture.
After the conclusion of the second day’s play at the iconic Eden Gardens, India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, attended the press conference, and when he was asked about Gill’s injury, he said, “I think we first need to determine how he got neck stiffness, maybe just a bad night’s sleep. I don’t think we can put it down to the load. Shubman is a very fit guy; he looks after himself very well, so it’s just unfortunate this morning that he woke up with a stiff neck and that carried him into the day, which was crucial for us.”
Curse of November 15
Gill, who retired hurt during India’s first innings on Saturday, November 15, also played in the first semifinal of the ODI World Cup 2023 against New Zealand in Mumbai on the same date a couple of years ago, where he similarly retired hurt.
Gill was batting with a score of 79 runs off 65 balls when he walked off the field because of cramps. However, he came back in the 50th over to resume his innings and scored a run off the only ball he got to face, ending with 80 runs off 66 balls.
