India faces a selection headache before the IND vs SA 2nd Test! Captain Shubman Gill might miss the crucial Guwahati Test match. He suffered a neck injury during the first Test at Kolkata. Medical staff are monitoring his condition closely right now.
India lost that opening match by 30 runs embarrassingly. They couldn’t chase just 124 runs that day unfortunately. Now, team management needs backup plans for the second Test.
Shubman Gill’s Injury Concerns
Shubman Gill hurt his neck while batting in the first Test. The injury happened during an awkward shot attempt against Simon Harmer. Team doctors haven’t officially ruled him out yet. But they’re taking precautions as advised by medical experts.
His status remains uncertain for the Guwahati Test starting soon. BCCI wants to avoid rushing Shubman Gill back too early. Previous injury experiences taught them valuable lessons about player welfare. The captain’s absence would be a massive blow honestly.
Shubman Gill’s participation in the upcoming white-ball series also looks doubtful. He is the captain of the Indian ODI team. His absence will challenge India to find a new captain. ODI vice captain Shreyas Iyer is already out of the SA ODIs match due to injury.
Everything depends on how quickly he recovers from this injury. Now, BCCI has to find a new captain if both are not available for the ODI series.
Possible Replacements for Shubman Gill
Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal are training hard as replacements. Both are left-handed batters who can hold the innings. Coach Gautam Gambhir conducted lengthy net sessions with them.
But here’s the tricky part! South African spinner Simon Harmer troubled left-handers badly in Kolkata. He got several wickets against left-handed Indian batters there. Adding another leftie might not make tactical sense now.
Nitish Kumar Reddy rejoined the squad before the IND vs SA 2nd Test. He bats right-handed and provides middle-order flexibility too. The team might sacrifice a spinner to fit Nitish Kumar Reddy in. His all-round abilities give India different options strategically.
Team Strategy for Guwahati Test
The coaching staff faces tough decisions about the final eleven. Pitch conditions at Barsapara Cricket Stadium will influence their choices. SA spinners dominated the first Test completely with brilliant bowling.
India needs a right-handed batter to balance the lineup properly. Nitish Reddy fits that requirement perfectly for the Guwahati Test. The team must bounce back strongly in the IND vs SA 2nd Test. Losing the series at home would hurt India’s Test championship hopes.
