Shubman Gill’s Fitness doubt Persists Ahead of Guwahati Test

India captain Shubman Gill was taken to Guwahati with the national squad for the second Test against South Africa, but his participation in the match remains uncertain as his neck injury has not fully healed.

Gill’s injury, which affected him during the Kolkata Test, has been improving gradually, but it has been understood through team sources that the 26-year-old batter is still not completely fit. The pain in the nape of his neck has reduced, but continues to linger, making his match readiness doubtful.

A statement issued by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Gill had travelled with the team and continued to be under the supervision of the medical staff. “Shubman has been responding well to treatment and will travel to Guwahati with the team. He will continue to be monitored, and a decision on his participation in the second Test will be taken accordingly,” the statement said.

Gill is expected to attempt proving his fitness during practice sessions scheduled for Thursday and Friday. However, it has been understood that the demands of a five-day Test could aggravate the injury and possibly result in a longer recovery period.

With the series level and South African off-spinner Simon Harmer posing a threat on Indian conditions, the need for a reliable right-handed batter has been felt by the team management. Despite this, the current coaching staff and selectors have not shown strong confidence in backup right-handers such as Sarfaraz Khan, Karun Nair, or Abhimanyu Easwaran, even though the trio is known for good spin-handling ability.

In contrast, Sai Sudharsan, who played in Kolkata, has not appeared fully convincing. A viewpoint within the team has suggested that Dhruv Jurel, known for a tighter technique, may be better suited for the No. 3 position if required. Against this backdrop, even a half-fit Gill is being viewed as more valuable than the available alternatives.

As a newly appointed Test captain, Gill is also understood to be keen to avoid missing matches at the early stage of his leadership. However, medical experts have indicated that he may require around 10 more days to completely recover and complete full rehabilitation.

If Gill decides to play the Guwahati Test, it is likely that he will be rested from the ODI series starting November 30 in Ranchi. With little at stake in the ODIs, such a rest could help him recover in time for the T20Is against South Africa. But the situation has been complicated by the injury to ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, raising the possibility that a temporary leadership role may fall to KL Rahul or Axar Patel, something Gill is believed to be cautious about.

It has been assessed that Gill cannot realistically feature in the second Test, three ODIs, and five T20Is in the next four weeks while managing injury and extensive travel. Any such attempt could risk further complications, and from a long-term perspective, a break may be required for the overall benefit of both the player and the team.