India’s cricket captain, Shubman Gill, faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the second test against South Africa due to a neck injury. Gill, who was forced to retire hurt during the first innings of the Kolkata test—a match India lost by 30 runs—traveled with the team to Guwahati on Wednesday. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addressed the media on Thursday, indicating that Gill’s availability hinges on the risk of a recurring neck spasm. ‘He is definitely recovering really well. The decision will be made tomorrow evening,’ Kotak stated. ‘If there’s a guarantee that the issue won’t recur, he will play. Otherwise, he will rest for one more game, as it wouldn’t benefit the team.’ Should Gill be sidelined, vice-captain Rishabh Pant is set to lead the team in the second test, which begins on Saturday in Guwahati. Kotak emphasized the team’s depth, noting, ‘Any team would miss a player and captain like Shubman. But we have plenty of good players who should step up and perform.’ Potential replacements include Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The series between India and South Africa will continue with three one-day internationals and five T20 internationals scheduled from November 30 to December 19.