Indian cricket team captain Shubman Gill, who sat out the second innings of the first India vs South Africa Test in Kolkata, will not play the must-win second game in Guwahati, sources told NDTV. Gill suffered a neck injury during the match at Eden Gardens and did not bat during India’s chase of 124. The home side lost the match by 30 runs, and Gill’s absence was hugely felt. With the second Test of the two-match series starting on Friday, Gill was desperate to play and even travelled to Guwahati. However, he will not feature.
In his place, 24-year-old top-order batter Sai Sudharsan will be part of the XI. Sudharsan made his Test debut in England in June. He has so far played five Tests, scoring 273 runs at an average of 30.33. Sudharsan’s last match was at home against West Indies in October, where he scored 39 and 87. The batter is part of the squad for the South Africa series but did not play the first Test.
Gill had to be admitted to a Kolkata hospital after sustaining the neck injury on Day 2 of the first India vs South Africa Test. He was later discharged. While he might be clinically fit, the rigours of five-day cricket could aggravate the issue and result in a longer lay-off.
Gill, who did not take part in much of the first Test in Kolkata due to the neck injury, reached Guwahati with the team without wearing a neck brace, ahead of the second Test against South Africa starting November 22.
According to news agency PTI, Gill probably needs at least 10 days to fully recover and then complete his rehabilitation to be match-ready. The logical step for selectors would be to rest him from the ODI series starting November 30 in Ranchi. With little at stake in the series, he could easily take a break and return for the T20s against South Africa.
But with his ODI deputy Shreyas Iyer far from fit after his on-field injury, the last thing Gill wants is a third captaincy contender in KL Rahul or Axar Patel, even if it means only in a stop-gap role.