)
Shubman Gill is an Indian cricketer who was named the top Indian batsman in the ICC ODI Rankings 2023. Gill broke Virat Kohli's record in the India vs New Zealand ODI series after scoring 360 runs in three innings. He was named the "Man of the Series" and set the world record for making the most runs in an ODI series.
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya have been rested for the series, with Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy making a comeback in the 50-over format
A superstar cricketer getting dropped from the India team has been pretty rare -almost a Black Swan event
Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma led India's batting charge in T20Is in 2025, proving the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands
Gill, in his last 18 T20I innings, was only able to amass 377 runs at an average of 20.94, with his best score being 47 vs Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025
Last time Gill played a T20I match in Ahmedabad he scored his maiden T20I hundred against New Zealand
Shubman Gill's recent T20I record has become one of the central talking points ahead of the squad announcement
The injury occurred during a training session, and the team is taking all necessary precautions for his swift recovery.
Gill was brought back into the T20 setup with the Asia Cup in September after he led India to two famous Test wins in the drawn five-match series in England
India's top order failed to make a mark yet again as a clincial South African bowling display helped their side to level the series in Chandigarh on the night.
The T20 vice-captain would be looking for some strong performances against the Proteas upon his return to action.
Gill was earlier named in India's squad for the South Africa T20I series, but his inclusion remained subject to fitness clearance.
India have kept most of the squad that won the T20I series in Australia, with one major boost, Hardik Pandya returns after recovering from a left quadricep injury.
According to media reports, officials at the CoE were impressed by Gill's intensity and freedom of movement during recent sessions
Hardik is set to play his first match in nearly two and a half months in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), representing Baroda against Punjab on Tuesday in Hyderabad.
Two specialist batters, B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, are available, along with seam-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who rejoins the squad after being rested for the first Test.
In its official statement, the BCCI revealed that Gill has been responding positively to treatment and has been cleared to travel.
BCCI confirmed the development minutes before the start of day three, ending all hopes of Gill returning to rescue his team on a wicket that has only grown more treacherous with time.
Hours after leaving the field, Gill was seen being stretchered into an ambulance, wearing a cervical collar to lock his neck in place.
The franchise, which has consistently been a strong contender since their debut in 2022, has largely kept their core intact, focusing on retaining key players for the upcoming season.
Concern for India as Shubman Gill walks off with apparent neck injury after brief but attacking start