India’s T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill has received full clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) Sports Science team to feature in the opening T20I against South Africa. After undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation and skill-training protocols for Return To Play (RTP) following a neck injury from the Kolkata Test, Gill met all criteria: “Shubman Gill has successfully completed his rehabilitation at CoE and has met the requisite criteria to be declared fit for all formats of the game.”

Neck Injury Timeline And Recovery

Gill sustained a whiplash injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test, requiring hospitalization and injections for two days. This sidelined him from the second Test in Guwahati and the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. Selected for the T20I squad subject to fitness, he completed rehab plus match-simulation batting and fielding at CoE under supervision of physio Kamlesh Jain, strength coach Adrian Le Roux, and sports doctor Dr Charles.

The CoE communication reached the team management’s Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) unit, confirming Gill’s readiness for the five-match T20 series starting Sunday in Cuttack.

T20I Squad Joins In Cuttack

T20I-only players assemble in Cuttack Saturday for first session Sunday. Suryakumar Yadav captains; Gill returns as vice-captain. Series timing post-ODIs allows seamless transition—India eyes strong start after 1-1 ODI draw.

Gill’s fitness dispels doubts, bolstering top-order firepower alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan. His recent domestic/Vijay Hazare commitments maintained sharpness.

BCCI’s RTP protocols underscore injury management rigor, ensuring Gill’s safe return across formats.