Indian captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Gill suffered a neck spasm on Saturday, November 15, just three balls into his innings and had walked off. The 26-year-old didn't come out to bat later on and was admitted to the hospital in Kolkata and remained under observation and the BCCI confirmed before the start of the play on Day that he will continue to be monitored by the medical team.
"Captain Shubman Gill had a neck injury on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day's play," the BCCI said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). "He is currently under observation in the hospital. He will take no further part in the Test match. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team," the statement further read.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel revealed at the post-day presser that Gill had woken up with a little pain in his neck on Saturday and it kept worsening through the day. Gill hit a boundary off the third ball he faced, sweeping Simon Harmer, before jumping around in pain. Gill was tended to by the physio and walked off immediately and hence, India's innings after losing nine wickets for 189 came to an end.
Vice-captain Rishabh Pant took over the captaincy duties for the rest of the second day, which saw India nearly roll over the South African batting line-up, with skipper Temba Bavuma somehow being able to survive the hostile conditions on Saturday. A target in excess of 120 could be very tricky to chase on this Kolkata wicket and hence, India will hope to get the remaining three wickets cheaply.
No batter has been able to touch the 40-mark in this Test match and India will hope that it continues until South Africa's innings, with Bavuma inching closer to that mark.
