Shubman Gill Out of Second Test vs South Africa

India Test captain Shubman Gill is set to miss the second Test match against South Africa after sustaining a neck injury during the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The injury has forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to call up all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as his replacement for the upcoming match in Guwahati, which begins on Saturday.

Gill’s Injury and Medical Status

Gill suffered the neck injury on Day 2 of the first Test while batting. The injury resulted in acute neck pain and a neck spasm that kept him hospitalized and unable to continue playing. Medical advisors have prescribed a neck collar and three to four days of complete rest. The Indian cricketer has been advised against traveling by flight and will skip the optional training session in Kolkata scheduled for Tuesday due to severe pain.

Nitish Reddy Called as Replacement

Sources from the Cricket Association of Bengal confirm that Gill will not accompany the squad to Guwahati for the second and final Test of the series. His replacement, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who plays for India A, was initially released before the Kolkata Test but has now been recalled. Reddy had become surplus to requirements on the dry, spin-friendly ground but is now expected to rejoin the team.

India’s medical team will monitor Gill’s progress daily. While Reddy is likely to return to the starting lineup, the team might alternatively consider specialist batsman options like Devdutt Padikkal or B Sai Sudharsan, though adding another left-hander to the squad may not be preferred at this stage of the series.