Team India captain Shubman Gill left the field after facing only a few deliveries in the first innings on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Saturday, November 15. Gill got off the mark in impressive style but suffered a neck injury, prompting him to receive medical attention. Gill came to the crease following Washington Sundar’s soft dismissal to Simon Harmer in the 35th over.
He immediately took charge, hitting a boundary off the spinner with a sweep shot at the end of the over. However, he appeared to be in discomfort right after playing the stroke. The physios quickly attended to him, and after a brief discussion, Gill walked off the field with the medical staff to the dressing room.
With the captain temporarily retired hurt, Rishabh Pant took his place at the crease, marking his return to international cricket after recovering from an injury. When Gill walked off the field, India’s score stood at 79 for 2 after 34.5 overs.
The BCCI released an update following the conclusion of the first session:
Shubman Gill Previously Struggled With Neck Spasms
The right-handed batter has previously faced similar neck issues. He had to sit out the second T20I against Sri Lanka in 2024 due to a comparable injury, and the problem resurfaced soon after, ruling him out of the first Test against New Zealand at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, in October 2024.
Gill has been playing continuous cricket for an extended period, raising concerns about his workload, especially as he now handles all-format duties alongside captaincy responsibilities. Currently, there is no official word on the seriousness of the injury or whether he will return to bat in the first innings.
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