Shubman Gill Ruled Out of Guwahati Test, Rishabh Pant to Captain India

In a significant setback for the Indian team, captain Shubman Gill has been officially ruled out of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant will step up to lead the side in his absence, as confirmed by the BCCI on the eve of the match.

Gill’s injury occurred during the first Test in Kolkata, where he left the field after facing just three balls on the second day and took no further part in the game. He was diagnosed with a neck spasm and was subsequently admitted to a hospital. Although he was discharged and travelled with the team to Guwahati, he missed both practice sessions leading up to the crucial match.

With Gill’s recovery not progressing satisfactorily, the medical team has decided to send him to Mumbai for further assessment and treatment. This is not the first time Gill has faced a neck-related issue, having previously missed the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024 due to a similar problem.

Announcing the leadership change, stand-in captain Rishabh Pant said, “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 everyday.”

With India trailing 0-1 in the two-match series, the team management now faces a selection dilemma for the must-win game. The think-tank is likely to bring in one among Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, or Nitish Kumar Reddy to fill the vacancy in the batting lineup as India chase a series-levelling victory.

                                               

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