Kolkata :Team India captain Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa, has been ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati.
Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day’s play. He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. He travelled to Guwahati on 19th November, 2025.
Unfortunately, he was not fully fit to feature in the 2nd Test and will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury.
Gill did not train with the team on Thursday and had been scheduled to undergo a final fitness test on Friday in a late bid to prove his fitness. However, the medical team advised against taking any risks, prompting his withdrawal from the match.
“Team India captain Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa, has been ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati. Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day’s play,” the BCCI confirmed in a statement.
“He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. He travelled to Guwahati on 19th November, 2025. Unfortunately, he was not fully fit to feature in the 2nd Test and will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury. Rishabh Pant will lead the team in the 2nd Test in Gill’s absence.”
Gill was admitted to the hospital after the second day of the Kolkata Test, having retired hurt after facing only three deliveries in India’s first innings. On the morning of the third day, the BCCI confirmed that he would take no further part in the contest. India eventually lost the Test by 30 runs, bowled out for 93 while chasing 124 on a surface offering uneven bounce. Gill had previously missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a similar neck issue.
India now face a selection dilemma as they consider options to replace Gill. The squad is saturated with left-hand batters. Six featured in the XI in Kolkata, with five in the top eight, and both Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, the leading contenders to enter the side, also bat left-handed. The left-heavy order played into the hands of off-spinner Simon Harmer, who was named Player of the Match in Kolkata.
Sai Sudharsan is the frontrunner to open in Gill’s absence, while Nitish Reddy is expected to come into the XI in place of Axar Patel.
Rishabh Pant will lead the team in the 2nd Test in Gill’s absence. He will be 38th Test captain to represent Indian Cricket.
