India were handed a major scare on Saturday evening when captain Shubman Gill was stretchered off the field and transported in an ambulance after suffering a sudden neck injury during Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. What initially appeared to be a routine pause in play quickly escalated into a serious medical situation, leaving teammates and fans deeply concerned about the skipper’s well-being.
Gill was seen holding his neck moments before support staff and medical personnel rushed in. He was fitted with a stabilising brace as a precaution before being taken off the ground. The visuals immediately raised fears that the injury could be far more severe than first thought.
Shortly after, the BCCI confirmed that Gill was experiencing a neck spasm and was under close medical supervision. While the update eased some concerns, uncertainty remains over whether the captain will be able to continue in the remainder of the Test.
Morne Morkel Downplays Workload Concerns
India assistant coach Morne Morkel suggested that the issue may not necessarily be linked to fatigue or workload.
“We need to understand how it started. It could simply be a bad night’s sleep,” Morkel said, attempting to calm nerves. “Gill manages his fitness extremely well. This was unfortunate timing more than anything.”
Gill’s recent schedule has been relentless. After leading India in a demanding home series against England, he headed straight to Australia for a limited-overs assignment, wrapping up the tour in Brisbane last weekend. He returned to Kolkata on Sunday and joined India’s first training session on Tuesday — leaving virtually no recovery time between tours.
Injury Strikes at a Crucial Moment
Gill’s exit came during a tense phase of India’s innings. Moments earlier, South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer had broken a dogged stand by dismissing Washington Sundar for 29, courtesy of a sharp catch at slip by Aiden Markram. With the pitch offering grip and turn and the visitors tightening their lines, India were relying heavily on their captain to hold the innings together.
Instead, the shocking sight of Gill being taken away for further medical evaluation cast a shadow over the evening session. With Day 3 poised to shape the outcome of the match, the Indian camp is now anxiously awaiting further medical updates on their leader.