India’s batting coach Sithanshu Kothak has said that the final call on Shubman Gill’s participation in the Guwahati Test will be made only on the eve of the match. Kothak revealed that the team will be cautious with their approach to Gill as they do not want a repeat of the neck spasm.
Gill sustained an injury during the second day of the Kolkata Test and was unable to participate further in the match as he had to be taken to hospital. While the Indian captain was traveling with the teamthe latest news suggests that could be doubtful for the ODI series against the Proteas. Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Kothak said the 26-year-old is recovering well but the final call will be taken by the physio and doctors.
“Definitely he is recovering well – I met him yesterday. A decision will be taken tomorrow night. Physio and doctors will take a call. Even if he recovers, he should not get a cramp again during the game. That is important,” Kothak said.
FULL FAITH IN BACKUPS
Gill scored just four runs before the dismissal hurt in the first innings and Kothak feels his absence was the reason for the Kolkata Test loss. Gill has scored 950 runs in 14 innings during the ongoing WTC cycle, at an average of nearly 80.
“In the last match, nobody talked about it – if Shubman could bat both innings, 30 innings might not have mattered. If he had batted the first innings and had one partnership with a 100-run lead, we would have been fine. That’s not an excuse – that’s the reality. He couldn’t bat in two innings,” Kothak said.
India’s batting coach said that while they will miss Gill if he is unable to play, there is enough depth in the side to make up for the captain’s absence.
“If he makes a full recovery and is very unlikely to reappear, he will play. If there is any doubt, he will rest one more game. Any team would miss a player like Shubman and the captain, but we have good replacements – maybe whoever comes in will score a hundred goals,” Kothak said.
– The end
Published on:
November 20, 2025
