India captain Shubman Gill departed from a Kolkata medical facility after receiving treatment for a neck spasm sustained during the opening Test against South Africa, though his participation in the second Test at Guwahati remains doubtful. Medical staff continue assessing his condition while the squad prepares for travel, with commercial air transportation typically avoided for patients recovering from cervical injuries.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged the team's disadvantage after competing effectively one player down in their fourth innings pursuit of 124 runs, ultimately falling short by 30 runs. Left-handed batters B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal emerge as potential replacements if Gill cannot participate, although both showed mixed form during recent India A matches against South African opposition.
The injury compounds concerns about Gill's workload management following continuous participation across formats since the Indian Premier League through Australia's T20I series before joining the Test squad.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged the team's disadvantage after competing effectively one player down in their fourth innings pursuit of 124 runs, ultimately falling short by 30 runs. Left-handed batters B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal emerge as potential replacements if Gill cannot participate, although both showed mixed form during recent India A matches against South African opposition.
The injury compounds concerns about Gill's workload management following continuous participation across formats since the Indian Premier League through Australia's T20I series before joining the Test squad.
