Shubman Gill begins rehab ahead of South Africa T20Is

India’s Test and ODI captain and current T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill is expected to report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru on December 1, Monday for a routine round of fitness checks. These assessments will decide whether he is ready to rejoin the squad ahead of the five-match T20I series against South Africa starting December 9.

Gill has been out of action since injuring his neck during the first Test in Kolkata. The issue surfaced almost immediately after he began his innings. He attempted a sweep off Simon Harmer and felt sharp discomfort, forcing him to retire after facing just three balls. Further evaluation ruled him out of the Test in Kolkata, then the second Test in Guwahati, and eventually the entire ODI series.

With Gill unavailable, the selectors turned to Yashasvi Jaiswal to bolster the ODI batting group, while Ruturaj Gaikwad came in for Shreyas Iyer, who was also sidelined. KL Rahul assumed charge as interim ODI captain and led India to a 17-run win in the Ranchi ODI against the Proteas, a match shaped by a Virat Kohli century, a solid half-century from Rohit Sharma, and a key four-wicket effort from Kuldeep Yadav.

According to PTI, Gill received an injection as part of his treatment and was placed on a 21-day rest-and-rehab plan, which included strengthening exercises tailored to the affected region. The COE sports science unit will now run



him through the full sequence of fitness tests — covering mobility, stability and cricket-specific movements — before he can resume batting practice.

A BCCI official familiar with the process said the medical team will only clear Gill once he shows complete freedom of movement and no discomfort during skill routines. Until then, any timeline for his return remains tentative.

“Nothing can be said unless the sports science team assesses his movements during skills training and whether he is having zero discomfort while batting,” a BCCI source told PTI.

Ahead of the ODI series opener in Ranchi, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel also offered an encouraging update, noting that the internal discussions about Gill’s recovery had been positive and that the team expected both Gill and other injured players to rejoin the setup once fully ready.

Despite those signs, Gill’s availability for the South Africa T20Is is still uncertain, with early indications suggesting his chances are evenly balanced. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel is waiting for the COE’s final report and is not expected to make any unexpected changes to the T20I squad unless injury cases force a revision.

A green signal would allow Gill to ease back into match preparation, while a delay would mean India continue with their current options through the series.