New Delhi: India captain Shubman Gill will undergo a fitness assessment on Friday to determine whether he can play the second Test against South Africa, beginning Saturday in Guwahati. His availability remains doubtful after he injured his neck during the series opener at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, a match India lost by 30 runs within three days.
Gill, who travelled with the squad to Guwahati, did not participate in Thursday’s training session. He is expected to take the fitness test a day before the match to evaluate his readiness for the crucial contest. The batter faced only three balls in India’s first innings in Kolkata before retiring hurt due to what appeared to be a neck spasm. He was taken off on a stretcher and admitted to a local hospital before being discharged later the same day. He played no further part in the match.
The board has said that Gill is responding positively to treatment and will continue to be monitored by medical staff. A final decision on his involvement in the second Test will be taken after the fitness evaluation.
India enter the Guwahati Test trailing 0-1 after a misjudged pitch strategy in Kolkata resulted in a collapse on a sharply turning surface. With only nine recognised batters available after Gill’s injury, India fell short while chasing 124, bowled out for 93 in the final innings. The defeat added to a worrying trend of home losses, marking the fourth in just over a year.
Attention has now shifted to conditions in Guwahati. The Barsapara Cricket Stadium will host its first-ever Test match, becoming the 30th venue in the country to do so. As India attempt to level the series, Gill’s potential return remains a key factor in their preparations.
