- By Namrata Vijay
- Thu, 20 Nov 2025 02:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs SA 2nd Test: Sitanshanshu Kotak, who is the batting coach of the Indian team, has revealed that they will be taking a final decision on Shubman Gill's availability for the second Test in Guwahati a day before the match. He said that the team is being very careful with the way they are managing Gill, as they don't want his neck spasm to return.
He had sustained the injury on the second day of the series opener and didn't play in the rest of the match as he was rushed to a hospital. The Indian skipper still travelled with the team even though he might not play in the ODI series as well. In the pre-match press conference, Kothak said that Gill has recovered well and that a final decision will be taken by the team's physio and the doctors.
“He is definitely recovering well — I met him yesterday. The decision will be taken tomorrow evening. Physio and doctors will take a call. Even if he has recovered, he shouldn’t get the spasm again during play. That is important," Kotak told reporters in the pre-match press conference.
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FULL FAITH IN BACKUPS
He had scored 4 runs and then retired hurt in the first innings, and Kothak admitted that his absence was one of the reasons why they lost the first match. He had scored 950 runs after playing in 14 matches in the ongoing WTC cycle and at a staggering average of 80.
"Last game, nobody discussed this — if Shubman could have batted both innings, the 30 runs may not have mattered. If he had batted in the first innings and had one partnership, with a 100-run lead, we would’ve been fine. That’s not an excuse — that’s reality. Two innings he couldn’t bat," he added.
Kotak also revealed that they might miss the services of Gill yet again if he doesn't play, but there are enough players to replace him in the side.
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"If he is fully recovered and very likely won’t get the issue again, he will play. If there’s doubt, he’ll rest one more game. Any team would miss a player like Shubman and a captain, but we have good replacements — maybe the guy coming in will score a hundred,” he concluded.