Kolkata, Nov 15 (NationPress) Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill has been hospitalized in Kolkata due to an unexpected neck spasm that compelled him to retire hurt after scoring just four runs during the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens on Saturday.

Sources informed IANS that Gill was taken to a private hospital, which is the official medical partner for the ongoing Test, after exiting Eden Gardens while wearing a neck brace. He is expected to stay overnight under observation, with additional medical evaluations pending.

The incident occurred in the first session when, on the fifth ball of the 35th over, Gill executed a delicate sweep shot off South African off-spinner Simon Harmer for four runs. Although the shot was well played, Gill immediately grasped his neck in evident pain.

The Indian team's physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain provided on-field assistance, as Gill held the left side of his neck. Appearing rigid and unable to freely move his neck, he exited the field after scoring four runs off three balls. He did not return for the remainder of the day, with vice-captain Rishabh Pant stepping in as captain.

Later in the day, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Gill was under medical scrutiny, and his participation in the match would depend on further evaluations. It remains unclear if he will be able to continue playing in the Test match, where South Africa had reached 93/7 in their second innings, holding a 63-run advantage over India.

During the second session, new broadcast footage revealed that Gill’s neck issue had been a concern even before play resumed on the second day. The visuals showed him performing neck-stretching exercises with the physiotherapist and coaching staff, appearing to grimace with each movement.

India's bowling coach Morne Morkel declined to attribute the unusual injury to Gill's recent rigorous playing schedule across all formats, both domestically and internationally. “We first need to ascertain how he acquired the neck stiffness. Perhaps, it was just an unfortunate night’s sleep,” he stated.

“I don’t believe we can attribute it to workload. Shubman is an exceptionally fit athlete who takes great care of himself. It’s just unfortunate that he woke up with a stiff neck, which was crucial during the day. We needed another partnership with him at that time,” Morkel remarked during the post-match press conference.

Previously, Gill encountered a similar neck issue leading up to India's first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru in October 2024, which ultimately sidelined him from that match. This recurring problem also caused him to miss the second T20I against Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in July 2024.