India are gearing up for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati with a possible change at No. 4, as captain Shubman Gill continues to recover from the neck spasm he suffered during the opening match. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that the team has a replacement ready for the position if Gill is ruled out.
Gill missed India’s second innings in Kolkata due to the injury, and although his pain has eased, he is still not fully match-fit. India must win the Guwahati Test at the Barsapara Stadium to keep the series alive and prevent South Africa from securing only their second Test series victory on Indian soil.
Kotak revealed that India had already hinted at their backup plan when Dhruv Jurel stepped in at No. 4 during the Kolkata Test. He said the team will finalise their combination only after Gill’s fitness test on Friday.
“Jurel batted at No. 4, so he is one option,” Kotak said. “But until we know about Shubman, there’s no point discussing who will play. Once we know his condition and assess the wicket tomorrow, we will choose the best combination.”
According to a PTI report, Gill has made significant improvement but needs at least another 10 days for full recovery and rehabilitation. Despite this, the captain is eager to return, and the team management believes even a partially fit Gill may offer value. The BCCI sports science team is monitoring him closely before making the final call.
Kotak added that the team will prioritise long-term fitness over short-term risk.
“He is recovering well. I met him yesterday,” Kotak said, explaining why Gill missed India’s first training session in Guwahati. “The physios and doctors must decide whether there’s any chance of the spasm recurring during the match. If there is doubt, he will rest for one more game. A player like Shubman, especially as captain, will always be missed.”
