The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have shed details regarding vice-captain Shubman Gill's injury that has ruled him out of the fifth T20I against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, December 19. The opening batter sustained a foot injury ahead of the abandoned fourth T20I in Lucknow, and has been effectively ruled out of the series. Shubman Gill had travelled with the Indian team despite not being in contention for the fourth T20I in Lucknow, where Sanju Samson was slated to take his place. However, despite being at the venue and even warming up ahead of the toss, Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the ace batter is not fit to make it to the playing XI. "Shubman picked up a niggle in Lucknow, Sanju comes in for him." he said at the toss after being put into bat first. Minutes after the toss, the BCCI released a statement, officially ruling Shubman Gill out of the series finale. The severity of the injury remains to be seen as India are scheduled to play a white-ball series against New Zealand next month ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. "𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets on 16th December in Lucknow. After consulting a specialist and getting treatment with the BCCI medical team, he is improving but will be unavailable for selection for the final T20I in Ahmedabad," the post read. Shubman Gill had only recently recovered from a neck injury that he sustained during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He returned in time for the T20I series after missing the second Test in Guwahati, as well as the entirety of the three-match ODI series. Shubman Gill scored 32 runs in three matches in the IND vs SA 2025 T20Is The opening batter ends his year on a sour note as he endured yet another poor T20I series since his return in the 2025 Asia Cup. He scored only 32 runs in three matches at an average of 10.67 and a strike rate of 103.23 in the T20I series against South Africa, before his injury. He was dismissed for four runs in the series opener in Cuttack, and recorded a golden duck in the next contest in Mullanpur. In the third T20I in Dharamshala, he scored a run-a-ball 28, before losing his wicket to Marco Jansen.