Indian captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury during the Kolkata Test against South Africa. He retired hurt after facing just one ball in India’s first innings. He was unable to bat in the second innings and had to be hospitalized. The Indian team felt his absence greatly. The Indian team failed to achieve even the simple target of 124 runs and suffered a 30-run defeat.
Final decision yet to come
Captain Shubman Gill has now been discharged from the hospital, but the situation regarding his fitness remains unclear. According to media reports, a decision regarding Shubman will be made within the next 24 hours. The board does not want to rush into anything in Shubman’s case and will only make a final decision after consulting with doctors. Sources added that it is currently difficult to say whether Shubman will be able to play in the second Test, but the situation will become clearer after the next medical scan report is received. If necessary, Gill will be given complete rest and recovery time.
The second and final Test match of the India-South Africa series will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22nd. If Shubman Gill is ruled out of the Guwahati Test, Rishabh Pant will assume the captaincy of the Indian team. In the Kolkata Test, Rishabh Pant served as the standing captain despite Shubman Gill’s absence.
If Shubman Gill is out, who will replace him at number four?
This question is on everyone’s mind… Sai Sudarshan and Devdutt Padikkal appear to be strong contenders to replace Shubman. Either of them could be tried at number four in the Guwahati Test. The selection committee is already facing questions about its preference for left-handed batsmen, but this cannot be reversed now.
Sai Sudarshan has scored 273 runs in five Tests at an average of 30.33, including two half-centuries. Padikkal has also scored 90 runs in three innings at an average of 30.00 and with one half-century. Sai Sudarshan and Devdutt Padikkal have nearly identical Test records, so their selection could be based on their performance against right-arm spinners.