India’s Test captain Shubman Gill is set to travel with the national squad to Guwahati on November 19, just two days after being discharged from a Kolkata hospital where he was treated for a neck injury. The injury occurred during the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, and while the 24-year-old will join the team as planned, his availability for the second Test on November 22 remains uncertain.
Gill was released from the hospital on November 16 after spending the night under close medical supervision. The initial prognosis from the doctors has been cautiously optimistic: Gill is stable, mobile, and showing signs of improvement. He’s now back at the team hotel, where the BCCI medical staff continues to monitor him.
The final decision about his role in the Guwahati Test will depend on how he responds to rest and gradual mobility exercises over the next 48 hours. The injury itself unfolded in a dramatic sequence late on Day 2. Gill arrived at the crease after the drinks break, calmly defending the first delivery he faced from South Africa’s Simon Harmer.
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But on the very next ball, a slog sweep resulted in an awkward recoil, leading to what appeared to be a whiplash effect. Clutching his neck in obvious discomfort, Gill retired hurt after just three deliveries and was later seen leaving the ground with a cervical collar.
🚨 SHUBMAN GILL WILL TRAVEL WITH TEAM INDIA IN GUWAHATI BUT HIS PARTICIPATION IN 2ND TEST Vs SOUTH AFRICA STILL UNCERTAIN 🚨 (Sports Tak). pic.twitter.com/fdbk4tPw4T
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) November 17, 2025
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who also serves as the Cricket Association of Bengal president, paid a visit to check on Gill in the hospital the following morning. Ganguly confirmed the young captain was in good spirits, a reassuring sign amid the uncertainty.
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Gill’s absence was deeply felt in the fourth innings of the opening Test, where India, chasing only 124, was bundled out for 93. On a surface offering unpredictable turn and sideways movement, India’s middle order crumbled without their captain to anchor the chase. The loss, by 30 runs, represented India’s second-lowest unsuccessful chase at home and handed South Africa a 1-0 lead.
As the team regroups in Guwahati, Gill’s fitness remains India’s top concern. While he is likely to travel, the team management may need to prepare for Rishabh Pant to take over as captain, with a reshuffled top order for the crucial second Test.
