KOLKATA: India captain Shubman Gill was “under observation” in hospital on Sunday after suffering neck pain and will take no further part in the first Test against South Africa.
Top batsman Gill felt pain in his neck after scoring a boundary on the second day on Saturday in Kolkata and left the field.
Gill “was taken to hospital for examination after the conclusion of today’s play,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Sunday ahead of the start of the third day.
“He is currently under observation in the hospital. He will not participate further in the Test match. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team.”
The first match of the two-Test series looks set to end on day three at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, with South Africa resuming at 93-7 in their second innings, a lead of just 63 runs, on a difficult batting wicket.
Gill faces a battle to be able to lead the team in the second Test in Guwahati, which is set to begin in six days on November 22.
Veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets to put India in sight of victory on a manic day two of a low-scoring opening Test on Saturday.
South Africa were 93-7 at stumps and led by 63 runs in their second innings on an Eden Gardens pitch that has made batting decidedly difficult.
Fifteen wickets fell during the second day and KL Rahul’s 39 – from 119 balls – in India’s first innings remains the highest individual score of the match.
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma tried to replicate Rahul’s abomination and made an unbeaten 29. Corbin Bosch, on one, was in when play was called off due to poor light.
Spinner Simon Harmer had dragged the visitors back into the contest with figures of 4-30 that helped bundle India out for 189, with the hosts taking a slender 30-run lead.
“When you play in India you know you’re going to be under pressure and I thought we fought back well today to contain them,” Harmer told reporters.
“Cricket is a funny game, we could be sitting here tomorrow night with a completely different story. South Africa manage to reach 150 and bowl India out for 80.”
“If there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s that they can fight when their backs are against the wall,” Harmer added.
