Guwahati, Nov 19: Team India have suffered a massive blow ahead of the second Test against South Africa as captain Shubman Gill has been reportedly been ruled out of the affair due to a neck injury.
The second and final match begins here on Saturday. In Gill’s absence, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is most likely to take over the captaincy.
Gill suffered the injury during the first innings of the Kolkata Test and did not take the field in South Africa’s second innings. He was unable to bat during India’s chase of 124. Later, Gill was rushed to a private Kolkata hospital after play on Day 2 and was discharged a day later.
According to a BCCI statement issued on Wednesday, Gill will travel with the team to Guwahati and will continue to be monitored by the board’s medical staff.
Meanwhile, young left-hander Sai Sudharsan is likely to replace Gill in the playing XI in the second Test. Sudarshan, 24, who debuted earlier this year in England, has featured in five Tests so far, amassing 273 runs at an average of 30.33.
His last appearance for India came in October against West Indies where he scored 39 and 87. Sudharsan was already a part of the squad for the opening Kolkata Test however, he was not named in the playing XI.
Notably, hosts India face a must-win situation after South Africa claimed a 30-run victory in the series opener, leaving the hosts under pressure to level the two-match series.
