IND vs SA: Captain Shubman ruled out of second Test, will travel to Mumbai for treatment, Pant will take charge in Guwahati

A major update has emerged from the two-match Test series between India and South Africa. Captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test. He suffered a neck injury while batting during the first Test. He subsequently struggled to bat properly in the first innings, retiring hurt, and then did not bat in the second innings. He was immediately taken for a check-up and has now been ruled out of the second Test as well.

BCCI Secretary Provides Update

BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia stated, "Team India captain Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa, has been ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati. Gill suffered a neck injury on the second day of the Kolkata Test and was taken to the hospital for evaluation after the day's play. He was kept under observation and discharged the next day. He arrived in Guwahati on November 19, 2025." However, he has not fully recovered and will therefore be unable to participate in the second Test. He will now leave for Mumbai for further evaluation and treatment. Rishabh Pant will captain the team in his absence.

A Major Setback for India

This is a major setback for India, as the team lost the Kolkata Test against South Africa. The team failed to achieve the target of 124 runs and fell 30 runs short. Gill's absence was deeply felt then. Now, his absence in the second Test could be detrimental. India is already trailing 0-1 and facing the threat of a clean sweep.

Pant will captain in a Test for the first time.

Pant will be captaining in a Test for the first time. This is a big opportunity for him to prove himself. Pant was not able to bat well in the last Test. He was dismissed for 27 runs in the first innings and two runs in the second innings. Now, under his captaincy, he will be looking to lead Team India to victory and make a comeback in the series. This is a crucial match for India. Sai Sudarshan could replace Gill at number four, or Nitish Reddy could be included in Gambhir's all-round strategy.