Gill, who suffered a neck injury after facing just three balls on the second day of the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, played no further part in the game.
Photo: IANS
Putting an end to speculations around Shubman Gill’s availability for the second Test against South Africa, starting Saturday at the ACA Stadium here, the BCCI on Friday confirmed that the India captain has been ruled out and will now “head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury.” In his absence, Rishabh Pant will lead the Indian outfit in the series-defining contest.
Gill, who suffered a neck injury after facing just three balls on the second day of the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, played no further part in the game. He was seen clutching his neck and was later admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with a neck spasm. He was discharged from hospital on Sunday and travelled to Guwahati with the team three days later. But he missed both of India’s practice sessions in the lead up to the second Test.
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Meanwhile, Pant, who took over the reins of the side since Gill left the field in the first Test, said that the Punjab right-hander was getting better, and was keen on playing this potentially series-levelling match.
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“He’s doing fine, getting better. He was very keen on playing this Test. I got to know yesterday only that I will be leading in this Test. I’ve been having a chat with Gill every day,” Pant said in the pre-match press conference on Friday.
On Thursday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had said that the 26-year-old was under medical observation and a call on his participation would be taken on the eve of the clash. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak went one step further, saying that the team would not risk playing Gill if there was any chance of the spasm recurring.
“He is definitely recovering really well. Now, the decision (whether to play him or not) will be taken tomorrow evening. The physios, doctors, they will have to take a call that, (even) if he is fully recovered, [during the] game, he should not get that spasm again,” Kotak had said on Thursday.
“(…) If we have a guarantee that, very likely, he won’t have this issue again, then he will play. If there is a doubt, then I am sure, he will take rest [for] one more game, because it won’t be helpful to the team (if he plays),” he added.
With Gill now officially out and no replacements named, India have to choose one of B Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy as his replacement.
Gill, who has had a history of neck injuries, had also missed the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024. The development could also impact his selection in the ODI squad for the three matches against South Africa starting November 30. The squad for that series is expected to be picked by November 23.
Rabada out with rib injury
There were concerns as well in the South African camp, after their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the second Test for failing to recover sufficiently from the rib bone stress injury that had kept him out of the Kolkata Test. The right-arm quick will remain with the team for the Guwahati Test but return home immediately after and miss the white-ball series.
“The injury has been closely monitored by the Proteas medical team, and due to ongoing discomfort in the affected area, Rabada has been withdrawn from the remainder of the tour,” Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Friday morning, a day off from the start of the game.
“He will continue the initial phase of his four-week rehabilitation program with the Proteas medical team before returning to South Africa at the conclusion of the second Test,” it added.
After the two-Test series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series, followed by another three-match T20I rubber.
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