Will Shubman Gill Play the Second Test Against South Africa in Guwahati?

Following the completion of the white-ball series in Australia, Shubman Gill was among the players who flew to Kolkata for the South Africa Tests.

Will Shubman Gill Play the Second Test Against South Africa in Guwahati?

Shubman Gill's participation the second Test match between India and South Africa remains in doubt. (via India Today)

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It is more or less confirmed that Shubman Gill might not feature in India’s second Test of the ongoing two-match series against South Africa in Guwahati, due to a neck injury. Gill has been discharged from the hospital, but was seen wearing a neck brace, highlighting the seriousness of the injury.

Shubman Gill was unlucky to have injured himself on the second day of the first Test match between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He came out to bat in the first innings following Washington Sundar’s wicket. However, after sweeping South Africa’s Simon Harmer for a boundary off the third ball he faced, the captain complained of pain and stiffness in his neck, before retiring hurt.

The 26-year-old suffered a neck spasm, and was stretchered out of the stadium for scans at Kolkata’s Woodlands Hospital. While it was initially perceived that the pain would die down, the injury aggravated later that night, with Gill being kept under observation in the hospital. As a result of that, he had to miss out on playing in the second innings, while he saw his team suffer a humiliating 30-run defeat to the Proteas.

Gill has had a history of neck spasms, having suffered one during India’s home Test series against New Zealand, in October last year. It is believed that he suffered the injury because of his immense workload, having played across all the three formats non-stop since February 2025. Gill’s recent injury also puts his participation in the reminder of the all-format series against South Africa in doubt. 

While Gill has been discharged from the hospital, he has been seen in a neck brace since the injury, with doctors in Kolkata advising against any form of travel for a quick recovery. It remains undecided whether the Indian captain will fly to Guwahati for the second Test or not, while also looking to be fit in time for the upcoming ODIs and T20Is against the Proteas, starting November 30. Given the stiffness in his neck, his chances of featuring in the series decider remains bleak.

In his potential absence, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been recalled for the final Test, to be played at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati. It remains to be seen whether Reddy replaces Gill in the playing XI, or the team management decides to go ahead with Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal.

Aakash Chopra picks Ruturaj Gaikwad as Shubman Gill’s replacement for second Test vs. South Africa

While an additional batter might not be called up to the squad for India’s second Test against South Africa in Guwahati following Shubman Gill’s injury, ex-India cricketer Aakash Chopra made a surprising suggestion. He urged the management to pick Ruturaj Gaikwad. 

Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill replacement
Aakash Chopra urged the Indian team management to pick Ruturaj Gaikwad as Shubman Gill’s replacement. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been in great form over the past month. Apart from his exploits in domestic cricket, the 28-year-old opener most recently, scored a match-winning 117 runs for India ‘A’ in the first unofficial ODI of a series against South Africa ‘A’. He hit an unbeaten 68 runs in the second unofficial ODI as well, with Aakash Chopra suggesting that Gaikwad deserves a chance to fill in at no.4 for Gill.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra exclaimed that while India already has two capable batters, Padikkal and Sudharsan in the squad to replace the injured Gill, he highlighted the team’s struggles against spin. He noted that with both of them being left-handers, right-handed Gaikwad would be a perfect addition. Chopra also noted the CSK batter’s versatility, at any batting position.

Should Ruturaj Gaikwad be selected in the team?… There is still no clarity on Shubman Gill’s participation. He has been discharged from hospital, but there remains a question mark over whether he will play.

The ACA Stadium in Guwahati is in fact, the venue where Gaikwad scored his only international hundred. He had scored an impressive 123 runs off just 57 balls in a T20I against Australia in November 2023, although in a losing cause.

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