Indian batter Shubman Gill, who had a sudden neck spasm on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test, was taken to a private hospital. He was stretchered out of the stadium with a neck brace on, flanked by the team doctor and a security official. The visit to the hospital was precautionary in nature.
Injury During His Brief Innings
Gill was in considerable distress just three balls into his innings, immediately after sweeping Simon Harmer to the boundary. He clutched the back of his neck and called for the physio immediately. The pain was serious enough to force him to retire hurt, and he did not come out to bat again as India got dismissed for 189.
BCCI’s Update on Shubman Gill
The BCCI confirmed:
“Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the medical team.”
Broadcasters reported earlier in the day that Gill was performing neck-mobility exercises in front of the coaching and medical staff—perhaps an indication of some stiffness before play.
Recent History of Neck Problems by Gill
This is not the first instance when Shubman Gill would have gone through some discomfort in this area. In October 2024, he had missed a Test match against New Zealand because of a similar neck stiffness that raised concerns over a recurring problem.
Team’s Response and Morne Morkel’s Assessment
India bowling coach Morne Morkel termed the situation unfortunate but downplayed any concerns about Gill’s overall workload or fitness.
In the words of Morkel, Gill is “very fit” and looks after his physical conditioning extremely well, indicating that the accident was just related to bad timing rather than a major setback.
Potential Impact on Batting Order
If Shubman Gill goes in to bat again in the Test, he may not bat at his familiar No 4 spot as the injury was not an injury following an external blow, and the batting line-up might alter from India’s usual batting structure.
Workload Under Constant Monitoring
Gill’s scare comes at a time when his workload has been heavily scrutinised. He has played continuous cricket across formats since IPL 2025 and was one of the four Test players who travelled directly from Australia to Kolkata after the T20I series.
Match Situation After Gill’s Departure In the absence of Gill, Rishabh Pant led the team during the second innings of South Africa. Ravindra Jadeja, with his brilliant 4 for 29, spearheaded India’s attack, which left the visitors struggling at 93 for 7, holding a slender lead of only 63 runs at stumps.
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