India’s captain Shubman Gill is out of the hospital in Kolkata after a neck injury sent him there on Saturday evening during the first Test against South Africa. The early news is good, Gill’s stable, up and walking, can move his neck, and the pain that worried the team doctors has let up a lot.
He’s back at the team hotel now, resting and under close watch. The BCCI medical team and the squad’s doctors are keeping tabs on him for the next few days. It’s still up in the air if he’ll travel with the squad for the second Test in Guwahati on November 22. That call depends on how he responds to rest and treatment.
This video's for those who were saying Shubman Gill should have come to bat. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/SDn7JZ2mWa
— GillTheWill (@GillTheWill77) November 17, 2025
The injury itself was a rough moment late on Day 2. Gill came out after the drinks break, blocked Simon Harmer’s first ball, and then slog-swept the next one for four. That shot did him in a sharp jerk, and suddenly he was grabbing the back of his neck, struggling to turn his head. The physio rushed out just three balls later, and Gill had to retire hurt. That evening, the team took him to the hospital with a cervical collar, just to be safe.
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Sourav Ganguly, the former India captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal president, stopped by the hospital on Sunday. He spoke with the doctors and spent about fifteen minutes with Gill, later telling fans the young skipper was in good spirits.
On the field, Gill’s absence left a real mark. India was chasing only 124 on a spinning Eden Gardens pitch, but without their captain, the middle order crumbled. They managed just 93 runs, handing South Africa a 30-run win and a 1-0 lead in the series, one of India’s lowest failed chases at home.
Now, everyone’s watching Gill’s recovery with the Guwahati Test coming up. If he’s fit in time, India will hope his return can steady the team and help them avoid a series loss.
