New Delhi: India will be without captain Shubman Gill for the all-important second Test against South Africa at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, with Rishabh Pant stepping in as the 38th captain in India’s Test history.
Gill suffered a neck injury during Day 2 of the first Test at Eden Gardens, forcing him to retire hurt after facing just three balls. He was subsequently hospitalised in Kolkata, observed, and later discharged. Though he travelled to Guwahati on November 19, he did not participate in training and was ruled out for the match. The BCCI confirmed that Gill will return to Mumbai for further assessment.
In Gill’s absence, Pant, India’s deputy and wicketkeeper-batter, assumes captaincy, becoming only the second designated wicketkeeper to lead India in Tests after MS Dhoni. Pant has previously captained India in five T20Is in 2022, with a record of two wins, two losses, and one no-result.
Pant faces a challenging task as India looks to avoid a second consecutive home series defeat, having lost the opening match by 30 runs in just three days. The Guwahati Test will also mark the city as the 30th venue to host Test cricket in India.
