Shubman Gill Doubtful for 2nd Test After Severe Neck Injury, Advised Complete Rest in Kolkata

Indian skipper Shubman Gill’s participation in the upcoming second Test against South Africa is in serious doubt after the right-hander was advised rest for acute neck pain. Sources from the Cricket Association of Bengal confirmed on Monday that Gill will not travel with the team to Guwahati on Wednesday and will instead remain in Kolkata under medical supervision. The second and final Test of the series is scheduled to begin on Saturday.

According to officials, the medical team has recommended that Gill avoid travelling due to the discomfort. “He has acute neck pain, and we’re not allowed to go into further details about the injury. He must keep wearing a neck collar and continue resting for three to four days,” said a senior official. The decision to keep him stationary in Kolkata is precautionary, with further evaluation scheduled before the team departs. “We are monitoring his progress daily, and a clearer picture will emerge by Tuesday,” the source added.

Gill’s latest setback comes at a crucial juncture for India, as his absence in the fourth innings of the Kolkata Test left the side a batter short during a narrow 30-run defeat while chasing 124. He had retired hurt on Day 2 after facing only three deliveries and was taken to a local hospital for scans. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed that he would play no further part in the match. After being discharged on Sunday evening, Gill was spotted with a neck brace, indicating the injury’s severity.

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Head coach Gautam Gambhir mentioned after the match that Gill was “still under assessment,” with the team physio and medical staff conducting another round of examinations. If he fails to recover in time, India may turn to B Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal to fill the opening slot. Sudharsan, who scored 87 against the West Indies last month, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, while Padikkal impressed with India A recently.

This is not the first time Gill has suffered a neck-related issue. The Indian captain missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a similar problem. His latest injury comes after a demanding year in which he has played continuously across formats, from IPL 2025 through the T20I series in Australia. With workload management emerging as a key concern, the Indian team is likely to take a cautious approach to ensure Gill’s full recovery before the upcoming overseas tours.

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