IND vs SA: Shubman Gill released from India’s Test squad for do-or-die Guwahati match

Shubman Gill travelled with Team India to Guwahati but has now been released.

A huge development has come across on the eve of the second Test match between India and South Africa. Trailing 1-0 in the two-match series, India will now see their captain, Shubman Gill, get ruled out of the do-or-die encounter. Gill, who got retired hurt in the Kolkata Test, travelled with the team on Wednesday. He didn’t turn up for practice on Thursday but the Indian team remained hopeful.

However, now, as per the Times of India, Gill has been released from the squad altogether and will fly to Mumbai for further recovery plans. While he won’t attend physios at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s CoE, Gill will remain in Mumbai for the next few days and will report Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. Now, Gill’s availability for the ODI series (starts on November 30) is up in the air as well.

Shubman Gill injury update

The neck injury Gill picked up in Kolkata looked serious from the start, and every update since then pointed in the same direction. Gill left the pitch clutching the back of his neck, retired hurt after only three balls and was admitted to the hospital later that evening when the stiffness got worse. Since Gill is one of Team India’s most valuable assets and leads in two formats, it was assumed for the majority of the last 48 hours that he shouldn’t be risked.

Gill was seen with a neck brace as well when he was admitted to the Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata. It came as a huge surprise that Gill travelled with the team to Guwahati, where the Barsapara Stadium will host it’s maiden Test match. Having said that, India remained uncertain on Gill’s availability, as he was considered to feature in the playing XI if recovery was on point.

“Gill is recovering really well. Now, the decision will be taken tomorrow evening. Even if he’s fully recovered, we have to ensure he doesn’t spasm in the game again. The doctor and physio’s concern is this. If they’re sure it won’t happen, then he’ll play. Else he will rest for another game,” Kotak said while speaking to reporters ahead of 2nd Test in Guwahati on Thursday.

Who replaces Gill in 2nd IND vs SA Test?

However, in a few hours from then, the news of Gill getting released from India’s squad broke out. With Nitish Kumar Reddy already joining the team ahead of the second Test, he is likely to feature in the playing lineup. As for a direct swap with Gill, Sai Sudharsan seems the likely candidate. Sudharsan was surprisingly dropped from the opening Test in Kolkata despite the management backing him at No. 3 in the last two series.

Washington Sundar was made to bat at one down and the left-hander did well. Dhruv Jurel played as a specialist batter too but now is expected to bat at number four, something that Kotak also alluded too. With Gill being unavailable, a lot is going to change in the Indian lineup, something that is not ideal going into a must-win game.