Indian skipper Shubman Gill is unlikely to play the second Test against South Africa, with Cricket Association of Bengal sources confirming that he will not travel with the team to Guwahati on Wednesday. The team has an optional training session scheduled for Tuesday as assessments continue regarding Gill’s condition.

Neck pain forces Shubman Gill out of travel plans

A source told PTI that Gill is dealing with acute neck pain and has been instructed to continue wearing a neck collar. “He has been advised three to four days of rest and not to take a flight. In this situation, he is not advised to travel to Guwahati. We are monitoring his progress daily, and a clearer picture will emerge by Tuesday,” the source said.

India are set to travel to Guwahati for the second and final Test starting Saturday. After the defeat in Kolkata, head coach Gautam Gambhir said Gill was “still being assessed,” with further evaluations lined up by the medical staff.

Gill’s absence in the fourth innings proved costly for India, who fell 30 runs short while chasing 124.

If he is ruled out, India could bring in B Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal. Sudharsan recently scored 87 against the West Indies but managed a top score of only 32 in four innings for India A against South Africa A.

Gill was taken to the hospital after day two of the Kolkata Test, retiring hurt on four after facing just three balls. The BCCI confirmed on day three that he would not take further part in the match, and he was discharged on Sunday evening.

This is not Gill’s first neck- issue, he missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a neck spasm. His latest setback comes amid India’s concerns over his workload, as Gill has played continuously across formats since IPL 2025 and joined the Test squad only two days after India’s last T20I in Brisbane.