Shubman Gill's injury hurts India at Eden Gardens; skipper sustains neck spasm, BCCI informs on further participation

Shubman Gill's injury hurts India at Eden Gardens (BCCI Photo)

Shubman Gill sustained a neck spasm, which cut short his stay in the middle on Day 2 of the ongoing Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Gill hurt his neck after he played a sweep towards backward square leg region against Simon Harmer that resulted in a boundary. However, the shot also left him in discomfort, forcing him to return to the dressing room after spending just three balls in the middle.

The injury certainly hurt India's ambitions to gain command as the hosts could only manage a slender 30-run lead on a track where batting has appeared difficult. Gill didn't walk to bat as India closed the first innings at 189/9 in response to South Africa's total of 159.

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Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Gill will participate further in the contest. An official update by BCCI on the captain's status read: "Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progress."

During the Tea break, the official broadcast showed visuals of Gill feeling some discomfort on his neck before action even resumed on Saturday.

Interestingly, Gill had missed the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand last year due to a similar discomfort on his neck.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is marshalling the unit in Gill's absence as India look to fold Proteas at the earliest possible in the second innings.