India captain Shubman Gill reached Guwahati along with his teammates ahead of the second Test against South Africa. However, his participation in the series decider hangs in the balance. The Punjab batter is recovering from a neck injury sustained during India’s first innings in the first Test at Eden Gardens last week.
Shubman had to walk off the field after facing just three balls on Day 2. He couldn’t take part in the rest of the encounter, as Rishabh Pant served as the stand-in captain. The 26-year-old was taken to the hospital and kept under observation. He was discharged on the following day, much to the joy of the Indian fans.
The BCCI posted a statement on Wednesday (November 19), confirming that Shubman would travel to Guwahati with his teammates, and the medical team will monitor his condition in the lead-up to the second Test, which begins on Saturday. The board mentioned that a call on his participation in the series decider would be taken later this week.
Shubman was seen wearing a neck brace upon arrival at Kolkata airport on Wednesday morning. However, when he arrived in Guwahati, he didn’t have the supportive medical device applied. While this brought some hope among the fans, the latest reports could dampen their spirits once again.
As per a report from India Today, their sources have mentioned that Shubman is set to miss the second Test, and his participation in the subsequent three-match ODI series against the Proteas also remains doubtful. It has been stated that the team management is unwilling to take any risks ahead of a busy international calendar. The right-handed batter could be rested in the ODI series to give him time to return to full fitness before the upcoming assignments.
If Gill misses the second Test, either Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal could get into the side. Vice-captain Pant will lead the team. India are 0-1 behind in the series, having lost the first Test by 30 runs.
Get every cricket updates! Follow Us:
