Shubman Gill Doubtful for South Africa T20Is: Injury Scare Before T20 World Cup

Team India has potentially suffered a setback as Shubman Gill, the team's vice-captain, is reportedly sidelined for the final two T20I matches against South Africa. Sources within the team have indicated to PTI that Gill sustained a toe injury during a training session. The team is taking precautions to ensure his swift recovery.

According to a BCCI source speaking anonymously to PTI, Gill experienced discomfort after being struck on the toe while batting in the nets before the fourth T20I. The source noted that the pain and resulting difficulty in walking made it unlikely he could play on Wednesday, leading to his absence from the team. The source added that his participation in the Ahmedabad game remains uncertain.

With the New Zealand T20Is being the last series before the T20 World Cup and the squad for that bilateral series and the marquee event set to be the same, the national selection committee and team management will likely prioritize caution regarding the top-order batter's fitness.

This injury comes after Gill previously missed both the Test and ODI series against South Africa due to a neck injury sustained during the first Test in Kolkata, which required a two-day hospital stay. Despite being declared fit for the T20I series by the Centre of Excellence (COE), his performance has been under scrutiny, particularly with Sanju Samson's recent strong performances.

Gill's scores in the T20I series have been modest, with 4 and 0 in the initial two matches, followed by 28 runs in the third game in Dharamsala. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, has expressed strong support for Gill to perform well at the upcoming T20 World Cup in February.