India may be heading into the ODI series against South Africa with a major setback, as captain Shubman Gill is now doubtful after signs that his recovery from neck injury may not be progressing as expected. Gill, who was initially spotted in Guwahati without a neck brace, giving hope of a quick recovery, is now travelling to Mumbai for further medical assessment, indicating the issue may be more serious than expected.
Gill is likely to consult Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, one of India’s leading orthopaedic surgeons. Dr Pardiwala has treated some of the biggest names in Indian sport, including Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and even Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra. This makes Gill’s visit a significant step in determining his short-term cricketing availability.
Gill’s Absence Creates a Leadership Challenge
If Gill is ruled out, India face a major leadership problem. The ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is also unavailable, and Hardik Pandya remains uncertain due to his own fitness issues. This leaves India without their top three leadership options for the series.
In such a scenario, the captaincy question becomes complicated.
Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be brought back as captain for the 3-match series.
Jasprit Bumrah may also be rested, which removes another potential replacement.
Rishabh Pant, who will captain India in the upcoming Test series, is no longer a guaranteed starter in the ODI XI, as seen during the Champions Trophy, but with Iyer unavailable, he is expected to play in this series.
And yet, that leaves the door open for an unexpected leadership choice, possibly influenced by head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is known for bold, unconventional decisions.
A Crucial Update Expected Soon
Gill’s scans and specialist consultation in Mumbai will determine whether he can recover in time for the ODIs or whether India will have to look beyond him for both leadership and top-order stability.
For now, India wait for clarity and the possibility of entering the ODI series without Gill, Iyer, and Hardik, creating one of their most challenging selection puzzles in recent years.
Also Watch: Team India captain Shubman Gill arrives in Guwahati without neck support
