India's Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill, is set to commence his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on December 1, raising hopes for his participation in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. Gill sustained a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata and had to retire hurt. He was subsequently ruled out of the second Test and the ongoing ODI series.
After the injury, Gill consulted a spine specialist in Mumbai, who advised him to rest before starting rehabilitation, training, and skill activities. Prior to arriving in Bengaluru, he underwent physiotherapy sessions in Mumbai and spent time with his family in Chandigarh. According to reports, Gill has not experienced any discomfort during his travels.
Gill's recovery is progressing well, and he is expected to resume batting in the coming days under the supervision of the BCCI medical team at the Centre of Excellence. The next few days will be crucial in determining his availability for the five-match T20I series against South Africa, which is scheduled to begin on December 9.
Sources indicate that the BCCI is closely monitoring Gill's progress, and a decision on his participation in the T20I series will be made soon. The board is not looking to rush his return, emphasizing the importance of ensuring he is 100% fit and ready for the "grind". An official privy to the developments stated that Gill is a crucial all-format player, and everyone wants him to be absolutely ready.
While Gill traveled with the team for the second Test, he was unable to regain match fitness in time. His absence has led to KL Rahul taking over the captaincy for the ODI series.
If Gill is deemed fit, his return to the T20I squad would be a significant boost for India, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka approaching in February. His performance in the T20I series would be crucial for the BCCI to finalize the 15-member squad for the tournament.
Shubman Gill captains the Test and ODI sides. He has also previously captained the team in T20Is. In addition to his international duties, Gill represents Punjab in domestic cricket and captains the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Gill also holds the record for being the fastest player to reach 2000 runs in 38 innings and 2500 runs in 50 innings in ODI cricket. He was also the youngest cricketer to score a double century in ODIs at the age of 23.
