Shubman Gill to Miss ODI Series Against South Africa Due to Neck Injury

Shubman Gill will miss the upcoming ODI series against South Africa as he continues to recover from a neck injury. The Indian cricket team is considering Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul for temporary captaincy. Gill's injury, which he sustained during a Test match, requires extensive rest, and he is currently undergoing medical evaluations. With the series starting on November 30, the team is also looking at potential opening partnerships and pace attack options. Read on for more details about the team composition and injury updates.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 22, 2025, 21:19 IST

Shubman Gill's Injury Update

Captain Shubman Gill is expected to be sidelined for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa as his neck injury requires additional time for recovery, according to sources from the BCCI.

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and experienced player KL Rahul are being considered for temporary captaincy, although veteran Rohit Sharma is also part of the squad.

Reliable sources indicate that Gill's injury extends beyond a simple neck spasm, necessitating significant rest. The Indian team management is cautious about hastily bringing him back into play.

Gill sustained a whiplash injury while batting during the opening Test in Kolkata, which forced him to miss the subsequent Test in Guwahati.

Currently, he is in Mumbai undergoing medical evaluations, including an MRI, to assess the severity of his injury.

"All necessary tests are being conducted to determine if it is a muscular issue or if there is nerve tissue involvement that would require further rest. The selectors are hopeful he will recover in time for the T20Is against South Africa," the source stated.

Regarding captaincy, Pant is a strong contender as he is leading India in the second Test. However, he has participated in only one 50-over match in the past year, while Rahul is the preferred choice for wicketkeeping.

For this series, Rahul appears to be a more suitable option as deputy Shreyas Iyer is expected to be out for at least two more months due to a spleen injury sustained in Australia, although he may return before the IPL.

On the team front, Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to open alongside Rohit Sharma, with Abhishek Sharma, who has been consistently selected for India A's List A matches, as a potential reserve opener for the series commencing on November 30 in Ranchi.

The pace attack will likely feature Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh, with Akash Deep as a possible contender.

Jasprit Bumrah will receive much-needed rest following two Test series, while Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury, will only participate in T20Is until the World Cup next year.

Kuldeep Yadav may take a personal break, while Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Washington Sundar are set to form the spin department.