India suffered a significant blow on Sunday morning as captain Shubman Gill was officially ruled out of the remainder of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens. The Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI) confirmed the development ahead of the start of Day 3, ending all speculation surrounding Gill's availability after he spent the previous night in hospital due to a sudden flare-up of neck pain.
Gill had retired hurt on Day 2 shortly after attempting a slog sweep off Simon Harmer. What initially appeared to be a minor strain worsened dramatically as the day progressed. He was later stretchered off the field with his neck immobilised before being moved to Woodlands Hospital for further tests.
The BCCI, in its official statement, said: "Captain Shubman Gill had a neck injury on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day's play. He is currently under observation in the hospital. He will take no further part in the Test match. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team. "
🚨 Update 🚨
Captain Shubman Gill had a neck injury on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day's play.
He is currently under observation in the hospital. He will take no further part in the… pic.twitter.com/o7ozaIECLq- BCCI (@BCCI) November 16, 2025
This update confirms earlier signs that India were preparing for his absence. During South Africa's second innings on Saturday, Rishabh Pant took over as acting captain, indicating that Gill's situation was more serious than initially thought. According to a Rev Sportz report, the 26-year-old had undergone a series of scans and was administered medication to relieve spasms, with early indications suggesting a recovery timeline of several days.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel addressed the issue after play on Day 2, saying: "We first need to determine how he got neck stiffness, maybe just a bad night's sleep. Shubman is a very fit guy, he looks after himself very well. it's just unfortunate that he woke up with a stiff neck and that carried into a crucial day for us. "
India, meanwhile, remain firmly in control of the Test, but Gill's unavailability is a major setback-not only for the remainder of this match but also ahead of the second Test in Guwahati starting November 22. Whether he recovers in time for that fixture remains uncertain, with team management adopting a wait-and-watch approach.
