So here it is—our cricketing cliffhanger for the week. Shubman Gill sits at the centre of India’s growing anxiety, because without him the first Test chase in Kolkata looked like a group project missing its only responsible teammate. The neck injury is easing, yes, but “According to sources,” it is nowhere near perfect. And Test cricket, as we know, doesn’t exactly offer spa-level comfort.
Why Shubman Gill Matters More Than Ever
India’s middle order looked as shaky as a foldable table in a monsoon. The right-hander’s absence was felt in every over of that failed 124-run chase. Now he has travelled with the squad to Guwahati, but pain still lingers. Sure, he might be “clinically fit,” but that’s like saying your phone is at 3%—technically alive, practically useless.
The Recovery Puzzle Around Shubman Gill
Here’s the tricky bit. The man probably needs ten full days to recover, but the Test starts in two. If he plays now, he risks missing the ODI series. If he skips the Test, he risks the dreaded fate of every new captain—someone else doing the job well enough to be noticed. And with the leadership queue already crowded, the fear is real.
Author’s Verdict on Shubman Gill’s Chances
Honestly? Rest him. Yes, he’s competitive. Yes, he hates missing games. Captains worry about optics. But a half-fit batter slogging through five days of spin and stiffness helps no one. India need him long-term, not limping through November. Protect the neck now, unleash the cover-drive poetry later.
The Larger Stakes for Gill and India
The timetable before it is clogged: a Test, three ODIs, five twenties, and the amount of air travel a flight attendant has taken. He cannot play everything without being secretly put together with vibranium. So this call becomes bigger than one Test—it becomes a blueprint for India’s new leader.
Final Word:
If he plays, it’ll be courage. If he skips, it’ll be wisdom. And India, at this point, could use a little more of the second.
