IND vs SA: Shubman Gill admitted to hospital over neck injury, ruled out of first test
The BCCI confirmed he will not take further part in the match and said its medical staff will continue to assess him.
PTC News Desk: India captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out for the rest of the first Test against South Africa after injuring his neck on Day 2 at Eden Gardens. He was taken to the hospital after play on Saturday for detailed checks and is currently under medical supervision.
"Captain Shubman Gill had a neck injury on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day's play. He is currently under observation in the hospital. He will take no further part in the Test match. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team," BCCI posted an update on Sunday morning.
The BCCI confirmed he will not take further part in the match and said its medical staff will continue to assess him. Gill had walked off while batting on four, holding the back of his neck after what looked like a whiplash caused by a slog-sweep off Simon Harmer. He received immediate treatment from the physio and retired hurt after just three deliveries.
Later that evening, his condition appeared more serious as he was taken to the hospital wearing a cervical collar. Doctors have advised observation and additional tests to determine the extent of the injury and the required treatment.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel suggested the neck stiffness may have resulted from something minor like poor sleep, rather than his workload. When asked if Gill’s packed schedule contributed, he said he did not believe the issue was related to overuse.
Gill has indeed had an intense run of cricket this year—captaining India through the demanding England Test series, playing across formats, and joining the squad directly after the Australia white-ball series in Brisbane. He returned to Kolkata on Sunday, with India set to resume training on Tuesday.
Morkel praised Gill’s fitness, calling him one of the best-conditioned players in the game. He said the injury was simply unfortunate, adding that Gill waking up with a stiff neck on such an important day hurt the team, as another solid partnership with him at the crease would have been crucial.