India’s coaching staff were left assessing the condition of captain Shubman Gill on Monday after the Kolkata Test against South Africa finished inside three days, raising immediate questions over his availability for the next match in Guwahati.
Gill was taken to hospital during the Test with a neck problem and, although he has since returned to the team hotel, the management remain uneasy about his recovery. India are scheduled to train at Eden Gardens on the originally allotted fifth day, yet Gill is unlikely to take part.
The squad are due to fly to Guwahati on Wednesday, but there is little confidence that Gill will travel with them. Players with neck injuries are generally advised not to take commercial flights, a precaution that places further doubt over his involvement in the second Test.
Gill’s absence was felt acutely in Kolkata. After facing only three balls on the second day, he withdrew in visible discomfort and was later admitted to hospital. India’s batting faltered without him, and despite posting 189 in the first innings, they fell 30 runs short in a match that never found any rhythm.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir admitted the team missed their captain’s presence at the crease and could not confirm whether Gill will be fit for Guwahati. He said the medical team would continue to monitor him through regular assessments.
If Gill does not recover in time, Rishabh Pant is expected to lead India. Sai Sudharsan, whose omission in Kolkata prompted discussion, is a strong candidate to return to the XI should the captain be ruled out.
