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Shubman Gill has reportedly been ruled out of the 2nd Test vs South Africa. Sai Sudharsan is set to replace him with Rishabh Pant to step in as the captain.
Indian Test Captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the Guwahati Test. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI)
Indian captain Shubman Gill has reportedly been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa, which will be played at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati from November 22-26. According to a report in The Indian Express, left-handed top-order batter and Gill’s Gujarat Titans teammate Sai Sudharsan will replace him in the playing 11, with vice-captain Rishabh Pant to step in as interim skipper.
Gill picked up a neck injury during the first Test in Kolkata. It’s still unclear how, though, as initially the team said it could have been due to a ‘bad night’s sleep’, but proved to be more serious. Gill was admitted to a hospital, where he spent the night and was discharged with a neck brace. He traveled to Guwahati, and the latest videos showed him without the brace, though he didn’t seem completely comfortable.
The BCCI’s latest update on him came on Wednesday afternoon, confirming his travel.
“Team India captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test against South Africa and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day’s play,” the release said. “He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team, and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly.”
The most recent reports on Gill said that he wanted to give his best shot to be fit for the Test. It can’t be ascertained if the situation changed after the team arrived in Assam.
This would be the first time Pant starts as the team captain in a Test. Before his accident, he was earmarked as one of the ‘leadership group’ members, but Gill eventually took over earlier this year.
Sudharsan was chosen as the designated number three during some matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and the recent West Indies Test series. He wasn’t consistent, but did hit 87 and 39 in the last match he played for the country.
It’ll be interesting to see if India makes any other changes after choosing Sudharsan to replace Gill, because if not, that’ll leave the team extremely left-hander heavy with seven southpaws — a huge gamble against South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer, who took eight wickets in Kolkata.
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
November 19, 2025, 21:17 IST
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