Rishabh Pant India captain as Shubman Gill ruled out of 2nd Test vs South Africa, Sai Sudharsan in line to play

By Admin

20 Nov, 2025

India’s preparations for the second Test against South Africa have taken an unexpected turn, with captain Shubman Gill officially ruled out due to a neck injury. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant will now lead the side in the must-win clash in Guwahati, beginning Saturday, while left-handed youngster Sai Sudharsan is reportedly in line to enter the playing XI.

Gill Ruled Out After Neck Injury in Kolkata

Less than 24 hours after the BCCI released a cautious medical update, it was confirmed that Shubman Gill would miss the series decider. The injury occurred during the first Test in Kolkata, where Gill, after sweeping a boundary off the third ball he faced, immediately clutched his neck in visible pain. He retired hurt and took no further part in India’s innings.
He also did not feature in India’s second-innings chase of 124 and was taken to a Kolkata hospital for precautionary scans. Though discharged the next day and showing improvement, medical assessments ruled him out of the Guwahati Test.

According to the BCCI statement, “Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025.”
Gill was seen travelling with the squad without any neck support and is expected to begin neck exercises from Thursday. His full recovery is expected to take about a week, placing him on track to return for the ODI series starting on November 30.

Pant Takes Charge as Stand-In Captain

With Gill sidelined, Rishabh Pant serving as vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter will lead India in the second Test. Pant had already stepped into the role during the Kolkata Test when Gill was injured.
Pant’s aggressive mindset, tactical freshness, and natural leadership instincts will be crucial as India look to bounce back from a 0–1 deficit after South Africa claimed a 30-run victory in the series opener.

Sai Sudharsan Poised for a Test Debut

Young left-handed top-order batter Sai Sudharsan is the frontrunner to replace Gill in the playing XI. The Indian Express reported that the team management is strongly considering Sudharsan, who has impressed in domestic cricket and limited-overs formats with his composure and technique.
During the optional training session at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, Sudharsan trained alongside Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Devdutt Padikkal as India began sharpening their plans for the crucial encounter.

Crucial Must-Win Test Begins at 9 AM   A Historic First

In a first for Test cricket, all five days of the Guwahati Test will start at 9 a.m. The scheduling twist includes tea being taken before lunch an unconventional reversal of session timings aimed at embracing local weather conditions.

India’s Road Ahead

Trailing 0–1 in the two-match series, India must regroup quickly. The absence of their regular captain puts added pressure on the team, but Pant’s dynamic leadership, coupled with the fresh energy that a player like Sai Sudharsan can bring, may help India level the series.
As the team enters a high-stakes contest, the spotlight will be on how effectively they adapt, recover, and respond without their leading batter steering the ship.