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"Shubman would speak out for...": Bhuvneshwar refuses to panic over Gill's neck injury

Akshita Patel

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's take on Shubman Gill's injury [Source: @BCCI, @Media_SAI/X.com]Bhuvneshwar Kumar's take on Shubman Gill's injury [Source: @BCCI, @Media_SAI/X.com]

India’s preparations for the second Test against South Africa have hit a worrying roadblock as captain Shubman Gill is down with a neck injury. Meanwhile, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has said that Gill must not play if he genuinely needs rest.

Gill’s neck spasm injury came just three balls into India’s first innings, and things only got worse overnight. He was taken to a Kolkata hospital as his condition deteriorated, ruling him out of the match entirely. 

India went on to lose by 30 runs on a treacherous turning pitch, raising big questions about both the team’s strategy and their captain’s fitness.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gives his verdict on Shubman Gill’s injury

But Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn’t worried, at least not publicly. Speaking to media the launch of his new ‘CricGiri’ app, he made it clear that Shubman Gill doesn’t need to be protected by outside voices.

“Gill has become captain recently. If he so desires, he would speak out for himself. He is part of the think-tank, part of the decision-making. If he really needs rest, he will say that he needs rest. Mentally and physically he is in a position to say that," Kumar said.

It appears that Bhuvneshwar is subtly suggesting that Gill’s workload isn’t being forced on him and that the skipper himself will decide when to take a break. 

Gill is likely to travel to Guwahati with the team for the second Test scheduled on November 22. However, a final call is yet to be taken. The skipper’s injury is being evaluated day-to-day. 

Bhuvneshwar defends India’s strategy of playing on turning pitches

Meanwhile, the defeat in Kolkata has triggered criticism of India’s decision to prepare a sharply turning pitch. 

A target of just 124 should have been a walk in the park, but India collapsed under pressure. Still, Bhuvneshwar Kumar brushed aside concerns, saying India have been winning on similar surfaces for years.

“This is not the first time a spin-friendly track has been prepared. No one raised this question before because India was winning. Winning and losing is part of the game. It’s not that the team has not lost before or it has lost for the first time. I don’t think it’s a big worry.”

India fielded four spinners, a rare combination that raised eyebrows after the loss. But Bhuvneshwar defended the call, insisting it matched the wicket. 

“The way the wicket was prepared, we all know the requirement was for four spinners. We had good options and it was a turning track. The way the match went, it was a good decision."

Head coach Gautam Gambhir also defended the pitch call, saying the players didn’t apply themselves, and with the right defence, they could’ve overpowered South Africa.