Overview
- Gill sustained the neck injury during the Kolkata Test and was advised against the physical demands of another match.
- Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is expected to lead in his absence, with KL Rahul or Axar Patel considered fallback options pending confirmation.
- Left-hander Sai Sudharsan is likely to step into the top order for the second Test in Guwahati.
- India trail South Africa 0–1 in the two-match series, making the fixture pivotal for levelling the score and protecting World Test Championship prospects.
- PTI reports Gill may need around 10 days to recover, casting doubt on his participation in the ODI series starting November 30, as India also draft in Nitish Kumar Reddy.