Indian cricket fans hoping for stability in the lineup may have to brace themselves for more shakeups. Shubman Gill, who captained India in the recent ODIs and leads the Test side, has been ruled out of the high-stakes second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, scheduled to begin on November 22. The 26-year-old picked up a neck injury on Day 2 of the first Test at Eden Gardens last week, and with his recovery taking longer than anticipated, he remains in serious doubt for the upcoming three-match ODI series as well.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Expected for ODIs
The Men in Blue are set to host South Africa for three ODIs on November 30 (Ranchi), December 3 (Raipur), and December 6 (Vizag). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the ODI squad later this week, but uncertainty hangs over the leadership group. Not only is Gill, the designated ODI captain, struggling with fitness, but his deputy Shreyas Iyer has also been sidelined since sustaining an injury during the third Australia ODI in Sydney on October 25.
With both Gill and Iyer facing fitness concerns, speculation is mounting about major changes in India’s ODI setup. Fans, however, have a silver lining to look forward to: the return of heavyweights Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both icons, who’ve retired from T20Is and Tests to focus exclusively on ODIs, are eyeing another run at the 2027 ODI World Cup, and are widely expected to be named in the squad.
Battling Uncertainty in the Batting Order
Gill’s unavailability could force India to reshuffle their top order for both Tests and ODIs. The selectors may bring in right-hander Ruturaj Gaikwad as Gill’s replacement for the South Africa ODIs, although early hints suggest left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal could be preferred in the playing XI. New faces, including Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Tilak Varma, are also in the mix as potential batting reinforcements—especially if the team decides to rest Gill for the entire ODI leg as a precaution.
Despite the string of injuries, the core of India’s squad is expected to remain intact, given the current form of the other players. But with the series against a competitive South African side on the horizon, all eyes will be on how India’s selectors balance experience and fresh blood—while hoping that the fitness gods show a little mercy.
