Shubman Gill Ruled Out of 2nd Test, Rishabh Pant to Lead India

Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa due to a neck injury, and Rishabh Pant will captain India in his place.

India will be without captain Shubman Gill for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. The opener has not recovered fully from the neck injury he picked up on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test. Gill underwent hospital tests after the match and was discharged the next day before travelling with the squad on 19 November 2025. His condition, however, did not improve enough for him to take the field in the must-win match.

Gill will now travel to Mumbai for detailed medical assessment and treatment. With the skipper unavailable, Rishabh Pant steps in as captain for the Guwahati Test.

“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. Unfortunately, he was not fully fit to feature in the 2nd Test and will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury. Rishabh Pant will lead the team in the 2nd Test in Gill’s absence,” the official statement from BCCI read.

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India will now enter the Guwahati Test with a major selection puzzle. The batting group remains heavily stacked with left-handers. Six featured in the Kolkata XI and likely replacements Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal also bat left-handed. According to reports from The Indian Express, Sudharsan is the leading option to partner at the top. Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to slot in for Axar Patel to add variety and balance.

South Africa now holds a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.