India were dealt a major scare on Saturday evening when captain Shubman Gill was taken off the ground in an ambulance, his neck held in a stabilising brace after a freak on-field injury cut short his innings on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. What began as a brief pause in play turned into a worrying medical emergency, leaving the hosts unsure whether their skipper would be able to take any further part in the match.
Gill’s injury occurred during an attempted slog-sweep against Simon Harmer early in India’s first innings. The shot, struck cleanly for four, left him recoiling in pain almost instantly, his right hand moving to the back of his neck as he signalled for help. After a quick examination from the team physio, the opener walked off on four, having faced just three deliveries. At that point, it seemed a routine precaution.
However, the mood shifted sharply hours later when Gill reappeared—not in a training kit but on a stretcher, fitted with a cervical collar and escorted into an ambulance outside the stadium, reported news agency PTI. The images sparked immediate concern over whether the injury was more serious than initially believed. The BCCI later confirmed he was suffering from a neck spasm and remained under close medical supervision.
India assistant coach Morne Morkel insisted the issue may have been triggered before Gill even stepped onto the field.
“We need to understand how it started. It could simply be a bad night’s sleep,” Morkel said, downplaying fears of overload. “Gill manages his fitness extremely well. This was unfortunate timing more than anything.”
