3 players who can replace Shubman Gill in squad if India captain is ruled out of IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test ft. Ruturaj Gaikwad

India captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury setback as the team went down in the opening Test of the two-match series against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. On Day 2 (Saturday, November 15), during India’s first innings, Gill retired hurt for four after facing just three deliveries due to a neck spasm, and he took no further part in the match.

With Gill unavailable, Rishabh Pant stepped in as the stand-in captain. India eventually lost the match by 30 runs on Day 3 (Sunday, November 16), failing to chase a target of 124 and getting bowled out for 93 in 35 overs, with Gill not batting in the second innings.

Regarding Gill’s injury, he was taken to Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata after the completion of Day 2’s play and was reportedly discharged the following day. With the 26-year-old's participation in the second Test, scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 22, in Guwahati, now in doubt, here is a look at three players who could replace Shubman Gill in the squad if the India captain is ruled out of the IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test.

#1 Sarfaraz Khan

The first player who could replace Shubman Gill in the squad if he is ruled out of the second Test is right-handed batter Sarfaraz Khan. The Mumbai batter is playing in their ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy match against Puducherry, where he scored 67 off 113 balls, hitting six fours and one six.

The 28-year-old has already represented India in six Tests, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, including three fifties and a hundred. With his previous experience in home conditions, Sarfaraz could be in line for a recall if Shubman Gill misses the second Test against South Africa.

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#2 Ruturaj Gaikwad

Next on the list is Maharashtra batter Ruturaj Gaikwad. The right-hander has been in exceptional form recently and is currently representing India A in the three-match unofficial ODI series against South Africa A in Rajkot. The hosts have won both games so far, with Gaikwad playing a key role as he scored 117 in the first match, followed by an unbeaten 68 in the second.

Before this series, he was also in excellent touch in red ball cricket. Playing three matches for Maharashtra in the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, Gaikwad has piled up 298 runs in four innings at an average of 149.00 with two fifties and a century.

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#3 Karun Nair

The final player on the list is Karun Nair. The right-handed batter made his return to the Indian Test side earlier this year during the England tour, ending an eight-year absence. However, his comeback series did not go as planned, as he managed only 205 runs in eight innings at an average of 25.62, including a solitary half-century, which eventually led to him being dropped again.

That said, Nair has been in outstanding form in the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. The 33-year-old has already amassed 602 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 100.33, including two fifties and two centuries. His red-hot form makes him a strong contender to step in for Shubman Gill if the skipper is unavailable for the second Test.