Indian captain Shubman Gill has sparked a fresh storm just days before the Guwahati Test against South Africa, creating a scene that fans and the BCCI did not expect. Despite being advised strict rest by the medical team, Shubman Gill broke BCCI’s protocols by deciding to travel anyway.
While the rest of the Indian squad made their way to the airport together for Guwahati, Gill left separately in another car, accompanied only by a team physio. His neck injury has not fully healed, and doctors had clearly warned him against air travel.
Shubman Gill defies BCCI orders, travels separately for Guwahati Test
Despite this, Gill is determined to stand with his team in the crucial second and final Test against South Africa, starting on November 22. His move reminded many of the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir’s tough and no-nonsense attitude.
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A Revsportz report reads: “Shubman is on the way to airport in a separate car accompanied by a physio. India on way to Guwahati. He clearly isn’t there yet but is defying medical advice to be with his team as the skipper.”
BCCI issues official update on Shubman Gill
Meanwhile, the BCCI has issued a medical update on Shubman Gill, saying the captain was kept under observation overnight and discharged the next morning after he sustained the neck injury on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The medical team has confirmed that Gill will travel with the team to Guwahati on November 19, and he will continue to be monitored closely. However, a final call on the Indian captain’s participation in the second and final Test will be made after further assessment.
“Team India captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test against South Africa and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day’s play. He was kept under observation and discharged the next day,” BCCI said in an official statement.
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“Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly,” the statement further read.
Medical Update: Shubman Gill
Team India captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test against South Africa and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day’s play.
He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. Shubman…
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 19, 2025
With Shubman Gill uncertain, India set to make tactical changes in Guwahati Test
With the captain still recovering from his neck injury, the Indian cricket team management has already started preparing for the worst-case scenario in Guwahati. If Gill is unable to recover in time, the vice-captain Rishabh Pant is set to take charge as the standby captain in a must-win match.
In another big development, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been urgently called back into the squad. Reddy was earlier released to play the unofficial ODI series against South Africa A, where India A currently holds a 2-0 lead.
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Reddy’s return gives India a much-needed right-handed option in the lower order, especially after the Kolkata Test exposed how vulnerable the Indian team looked with six left-handers. However, India still has Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal as backup batters, but both are left-handers.
Including either of them would leave India with seven left-handed batters in the playing XI, a risky setup after Simon Harmer tormented India’s lefties at the Eden Gardens with six dismissals. With Reddy back and Dhruv Jurel likely to continue at No. 4, India could make tactical changes to add balance ahead of the crucial Guwahati Test, as the Proteas are already leading the series 1-0.
