Shubman Gill Misses Second Test, Rishabh Pant to Captain India

India’s cricket team will play the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati without their star opener and regular skipper Shubman Gill. Gill, 26, sustained a neck injury during the first Test in Kolkata while batting on Day 2. He immediately retired hurt after hitting a sweep shot for four and was taken to a hospital in Kolkata for scans. Despite being discharged the next day and traveling with the team, he has not recovered sufficiently to participate in the Guwahati Test.

In Gill’s absence, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will take over the captaincy. Pant, known for his aggressive batting and dynamic leadership, will lead the side in a must-win decider. Left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan is expected to replace Gill in the playing XI, strengthening the top order. Sudharsan, 24, made his Test debut in England last June and has played five Tests, scoring 273 runs at an average of 30.33. The team management believes Sudharsan’s temperament suits the high-pressure situation of this series-deciding match.

The BCCI confirmed that Gill has been responding well to medical treatment and is undergoing rehabilitation. However, the intensity of a five-day match makes it too risky for him to participate. Recovery is expected to take another week to ten days, putting his participation in the upcoming ODI series in doubt, which begins on November 30 in Ranchi. He may return for the T20 series, but the team remains cautious to avoid further aggravating the injury.

The Indian squad, including Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Devdutt Padikkal, attended an optional practice session at Eden Gardens before departing for Assam. Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been drafted into the squad in preparation for the red-soil Guwahati pitch, which is expected to offer turn and bounce.

The second Test in Guwahati is historic, as it is the first-ever Test at this venue. The match will start at 9 a.m. daily, and uniquely, the tea break will be taken before lunch, a first in Test cricket history. India faces a 0-1 series deficit, making Pant’s leadership and the team’s performance without Gill crucial for leveling the series. Fans and cricket experts will be closely watching how the young players step up in this decisive encounter.