India captain Shubman Gill was forced to walk off the field on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Saturday after he appeared to suffer from sudden neck stiffness. The unfortunate incident occurred just minutes after Gill arrived at the crease following the dismissal of Washington Sundar in the 35th over.
The 25-year-old looked visibly uncomfortable and was seen clutching his neck as the team physios rushed in to assess his condition. Gill struggled to move freely and eventually retired hurt after facing only three balls, raising concern in the Indian dressing room and among fans.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Gill will be able to return to bat later in the innings.
Gill had walked out to an enthusiastic reception from the Eden Gardens crowd, but the excitement quickly faded as he appeared to be in significant pain. His unexpected exit has come as a major blow for India as they look to build a strong first-innings total.
Ganguly Praises Shubman Gill ’s Leadership
Amid concerns over his injury, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently heaped praise on Shubman Gill, calling him “a perfect captain”. Speaking at an event, Ganguly lauded Gill for his leadership during India’s tour of England and highlighted the challenges of captaining the side at such a young age.
“Shubman Gill is a fantastic batter and a perfect captain. He captained India remarkably in England. As a young boy, going to England and captaining is not easy. He will continue to do well for India. My good wishes to him,” Ganguly said.
Ganguly also hailed Gill as an outstanding all-format player, expressing confidence in his future success.
India’s WTC 2025-27 Campaign Under Gill
Under Gill’s captaincy, India have made a promising start to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle. The team has won four of the seven Test matches played so far, losing two and drawing one.
As fans await further updates on his fitness, the Indian team will be hoping their captain recovers quickly and returns to lead from the front.
