The Indian national cricket team has been hit by alarming news regarding Shubman Gill ahead of the second and final Test against the South African national cricket team, which begins on November 22 in Guwahati.
Shubman Gill is facing a serious neck injury that could keep him out of the Guwahati Test. The Indian captain injured his neck while playing a sweep shot on the second day of the first Test in Kolkata. He had to be evacuated from the field and immediately taken to hospital.
Shubman Gill’s neck injury puts Guwahati Test in doubt
At the hospital, Gill was kept in intensive care as a precaution and examined by a group of six specialists, including neurosurgeons, neurologists and intensive care experts. After careful monitoring, Gill has now been discharged, but remains on a cervical collar.
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However, the Indian batting star remains under strict medical monitoring and will have to move carefully to avoid any strain on his neck, jeopardizing his participation in the Guwahati Test.
Only a miracle can save Shubman Gill’s hopes of playing the Guwahati Test
Meanwhile, a report by Revsportz has revealed that medical experts have strongly advised Shubman Gill not to travel, warning that flying could aggravate his neck injury and create long-term complications. Gill was advised to take complete rest for 3-4 days.
Despite this, the Indian captain is expected to join the Indian cricket team in Guwahati, not as a player, but to boost team morale and provide leadership from the sidelines.
With India trailing 0-1 in the ongoing two-match Test series against South Africa, Gill is determined to push himself, but his chances of taking the field are extremely slim in the final Test. Only a medical miracle could allow him to play, and doctors insist on complete rest for the next few days.
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The Indian team will have to wait until November 21, when a final assessment will decide whether the right-handed batter can indeed take part in the second Test against the Proteas team.
Meanwhile, Abhinav Mukund has raised concerns over Shubman Gill’s captaincy, saying the young batter is under too much pressure to lead India in all formats.
While other players have been rotated, Gill has played consistently, including returning for the Calcutta Test against South Africa straight after the Australia tour, and the workload is starting to take its toll.
Mukund urged the BCCI and Indian selectors to consider a split captaincy, with different leaders for Tests, ODIs and T20Is, allowing Gill to focus on his batting while providing leadership. Notably, Gill is already leading India in Tests and ODIs and will likely get the T20I captaincy next year.
Abhinav Mukund said on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan: “I think Shubman has the courage to become an all-format captain, but I don’t think India should have an all-format captain anymore.
The split captaincy is a smart move. Shubman Gill has been given the responsibility to take up the role during the Tests, and he will be under a lot of pressure. This is a crucial series and the England series has greatly boosted India’s confidence.
