Gill to travel to Guwahati as India recall Reddy
Shubman Gill will travel with the team to Guwahati, but his participation in the second Test will inevitably depend on his fitness. The Test begins on November 22, with India trailing 0-1 in the series.
Since being discharged from Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata on Sunday night, after being admitted for neck spasms, Gill has been with the team at ITC Sonar in the city. Sources say the India captain, whose batting was restricted to just three deliveries because of stiffness in the neck, is scheduled to fly with the side on Wednesday (November 19).
"That was the original plan and there is no change as of now - Gill will travel," a source in the know told Cricbuzz. "Barring a last-minute change, he should be in Guwahati." There were suggestions that he fly to Mumbai for an expert opinion, but that plan was dropped.
The BCCI and local doctors are monitoring his condition. The team management and selectors are in constant touch with one another. It is clear that all concerned want Gill to play the Test but they are equally firm about not rushing him back. A final call on his participation will be taken a day before the match.
The BCCI later issued an update stating that he will travel with the team. "He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly," a BCCI release stated.
India lost the first Test at Eden Garden by 30 runs, having failed to chase 124 in the second innings. Gill was not available to bat in the crucial second innings, as he was recovering in hospital.
Nitish Reddy joins squad
Meanwhile, the national selectors have summoned right-handed all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to Kolkata. He checked into the team hotel late Monday night and is scheduled to fly with the squad to Guwahati on Wednesday morning.
Nitish was in Rajkot as part of the India A white-ball squad currently involved in a three-match one-day series against South Africa A. It is learnt that he was asked late on Monday evening to proceed to Kolkata, and he immediately rushed there.
Nitish was originally part of the Test squad but he was released from the group before the start of the Test and was asked to play the white ball games in Rajkot. He featured in the first two games, on November 13 and 16, which India won, but was called back before the third match, scheduled for November 19.
Whether the SOS to Nitish is an indication that he will play the second Test is still conjecture, but there has been considerable debate over the Indian team's batting line-up, which comprised as many as six left-handers in the Eden Test. Nitish being a right-hander could work in his favour, though there has also been criticism of the team management for favouring all-rounders over specialists.
Ngidi added to South Africa squad
Cricbuzz understands that Lungi Ngidi has been brought into the South Africa squad as cover for Kagiso Rabada. The pacer missed the first Test in Kolkata after he picked up a rib injury during a training session ahead of the opening game.
Ngidi's last Test appearance was in South Africa's WTC winning game against Australia at Lord's. He also recently played in the ODI and T20I series in Pakistan.
