Shubman Gill Injury Update: Will He Come Out to Bat in Second Innings of First Test Against South Africa?

In Shubman Gill's absence, the Indian team neared victory in the second innings by restricting South Africa to 93/7 by the end of Day 2.

Shubman Gill Injury Update: Will He Come Out to Bat in Second Innings of First Test Against South Africa?

Shubman Gill suffered a neck spasm while batting for India on the second day of an ongoing Test match against South Africa. (via NDTV Sports)

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India suffered a massive blow in its ongoing first Test match against South Africa at home, as captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck spasm. Gill was forced to leave the pitch after scoring just four runs off three balls, in the Men in Blues’ first innings at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. 

The Indian red-ball side finds itself in a comfortable position at the end of Day 2, in spite of a dismal batting display. South Africa opted to bat first, and were restricted for a meager total of just 159 runs, thanks to a brilliant five-wicket haul by Jasprit Bumrah. Coming out to bat, the Men in Blue lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early on, leaving KL Rahul and Washington Sundar on the crease at the end of Day 1. 

The duo kick-started India’s innings on Day 2 steadily, stitching a 57-run stand off 164 balls, with Rahul scoring 39 off 119 balls, and Sundar adding 29 runs off 82 balls. However, Sundar’s wicket left the home team in disarray, as they were bowled out for just 189 runs in 62.2 overs at the end. Captain Shubman Gill, who came out to bat in the 35th over, received a rousing reception from the Kolkata crowd.

Gill skilfully dispatched the third ball that he faced for a boundary, executing a perfect and well-timed sweep over square leg. However, the 26-year-old suffered a setback immediately after. He appeared in visible discomfort, and held the left side of his neck in pain.

Gill later signaled the physios to come out for an on-field examination, and unable to continue playing, he slowly walked off the pitch in dismay. He retired himself out, with Rishabh Pant coming out to bat instead.

Gill did not come out to bat again, and had to be stretchered out of the stadium in an ambulance for scans at Kolkata’s Woodlands hospital, after being spotted in a neck brace at the end of the day’s play.

The BCCI later confirmed that Gill had suffered a neck spasm, making it unlikely that the 26-year-old will make his return onto the pitch at the Eden Gardens for the remainder of the match, given he did not even come out to field during South Africa’s second innings. 

However, team India bowling coach Morne Morkel dismissed fears surrounding the player’s condition, stating that the neck injury could be due to a bad night’s sleep. He even clarified that the injury was not linked to Gill’s workload, instead calling him a ‘fit-guy’.

Shubman Gill leads Gujarat Titans’ list of retained players, ahead of 2026 IPL season

The poster-boy of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill leads Gujarat Titans’ list of retained players, ahead of the upcoming 2026 IPL season. The young Punjab-born batter will continue to captain the Ahmedabad-based franchise, a role in which he replaced Hardik Pandya. 

Shubman Gill Gujarat Titans
Shubman Gill set to lead Gujarat Titans for the third straight season, in 2026. (via News 18)

While Gill failed to lead Gujarat Titans to the play-offs in his inaugural season as a skipper in 2023, the 25-year-old showed off his leadership abilities in his second season, guiding GT to the playoffs. He was equally impressive with the bat as well, finishing as the fourth-highest run-getter with 650 runs in 15 matches, while forging a brilliant opening combination with Sai Sudharsan.

Shubman Gill headlines the Ashish Nehra-coached franchise’s list of retained players, alongside the likes of Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Sudharsan, and R. Sai Kishore. GT have also retained a host of young and uncapped Indian talents, as well as veterans like Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan.

Gujarat Titans traded West Indies’ all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians for INR 2.6 crores. With six slots left to fill in the side at the auction, the 2022 IPL-winners will have a purse of INR 12.9 crores to spend on acquiring players of their choice.

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