Kolkata | India skipper Shubman Gill retired hurt after suffering a neck sprain while attempting a slog sweep off Simon Harmer on the second day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday, and a call on his further participation in the first innings will be taken at a later stage, BCCI stated.
"Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progress," BCCI said in a release.
Gill faced just three balls before the injury forced him off the field.
He struck Harmer for a slog-swept four over backward square leg but appeared to suffer a whiplash in the follow-through, immediately clutching the back of his neck.
The physio rushed in, and after a brief check, the opener walked off grimacing in discomfort.
The incident came in an eventful 35th over after the drinks break, where Harmer had moments earlier removed a well-set Washington Sundar for 29 off 82 balls with a classical off-spinner's dismissal -- the ball drifting and turning away to take the outside edge for Aiden Markram at slip.
Gill's premature exit meant India had lost three batters -- two wickets (Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington) and a retired hurt -- in quick time, altering the complexion of the session
Earlier KL Rahul (39 off 119 balls) and Washington Sundar (29 off 82 balls) added 57 runs on a difficult track but couldn't convert the start. Washington was dismissed by off-spinner Simon Harmer while Rahul, after all the hard work, was caught trying to cut Keshav Maharaj. Both catches were taken by Aiden Markram at first slip.
In the case of Gill, he suffered a sprain in the nape of his neck, trying to go for a slog sweep.
Brief Scores: SA 1st Innings 159. India 1st Innings 138/4 (KL Rahul 39, Washington Sundar 29, Rishabh Pant 27, Corbin Bosch 1/6, Keshav Maharaj 1/66, Simon Harmer 1/22)
Scoreboard at lunch on day two of the opening Test between India and South Africa here on Saturday.
South Africa 1st Innings: 159 in 55 overs.
India 1st Innings:
Yashasvi Jaiswal b Jansen 12
KL Rahul c Markram b Maharaj 39
Washington Sundar c Markram b Harmer 29 Shubman Gill retired hurt 4
Rishabh Pant c Verreynne b Bosch 27
Ravindra Jadeja batting 11
Dhruv Jurel batting 5
Extras: (B-4, LB-2, NB-4, W-1) 11
Total: (For 4 wkts, 45 overs) 138
Fall of wkts: 1-18, 2-75, 2-79* (Shubman Gill, retired not out), 3-109, 4-132.
Bowling: Marco Jansen 11-3-23-1, Wiaan Mulder 5-1-15-0, Keshav Maharaj 16-1-66-1, Corbin Bosch 6-4-6-1, Simon Harmer 7-1-22-1
