Gill released from squad, heads to Mumbai for injury tests, Pant to lead in second Test

India will begin the second Test against South Africa today in Guwahati, but without their captain Shubman Gill, who has been released from the squad after failing to recover from a neck injury in time.

Gill had developed a neck spasm while batting in the first innings of the opening Test in Kolkata and was later taken to hospital for evaluation. Though he was discharged the next day and travelled with the team to Guwahati on November 19, the stiffness did not subside completely.

In a statement, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Gill had been ruled out of the match and would now fly to Mumbai for detailed medical assessment. “He was not fully fit to feature in the 2nd Test,” the statement said.

With Gill unavailable, Rishabh Pant will lead India in the crucial match as the team looks to level the series. India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said they did not want to risk a recurrence of the spasm during the game. In Gill’s absence, India is likely to promote an existing squad member to the top order. Players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shreyas Iyer could be moved up, while a reserve batter like Rajat Patidar may also come into contention depending on the team combination.

Gill’s participation in the upcoming ODI series remains uncertain and will depend on the results of his assessment in Mumbai.

South Africa enter today’s Test with a 1-0 lead after their memorable win at Eden Gardens, leaving India under added pressure as they take the field without their regular captain. The second Test begins today, 22 November 2025, at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. After this match, the tour will continue with three ODIs scheduled on 30 November, 3 December and 6 December, followed by a five-match T20I series from 9 to 19 December across Cuttack, Mullanpur, Dharamsala, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.