Shubman Gill, who is currently out of action due to a neck injury, is expected to make his comeback early next year. The Indian Test and ODI captain missed the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati and was also not selected for the upcoming ODI series announced on November 23.
Injury That Ruled Him Out of 2025 Matches
Gill injured his neck on Day 2 of the India–South Africa Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The setback forced him out of the second Test at Barsapara Stadium and also kept him out of India’s three-match ODI series beginning November 30 in Ranchi.
There were early expectations that he might recover in time for the T20Is starting December 9 in Cuttack. However, a new PTI report suggests that Gill is unlikely to play again in 2025.
Selectors Confident of January 2026 Return
According to a BCCI source quoted by PTI, Gill is on track to return during India’s home series against New Zealand.
“The selectors expect that Shubman Gill’s neck injury will heal and he will be back against New Zealand (3 ODIs in January 2026),” the source said.
India will host New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is in January 2026.
Full Schedule: India vs New Zealand 2026
ODI Series
- January 11 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
- January 14 – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
- January 18 – Holkar Stadium, Indore
T20I Series
- January 21 – Nagpur
- January 23 – Raipur
- January 26 – Guwahati
- January 28 – Visakhapatnam
- January 31 – Thiruvananthapuram
Who Replaces Gill? Jaiswal Likely for SA T20Is
With Gill unavailable, Yashasvi Jaiswal is the frontrunner to replace him in the T20I squad for the South Africa series. Jaiswal, who was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup–winning squad, last played a T20I in July 2024 against Sri Lanka.
Gill was preferred ahead of Jaiswal for the Asia Cup 2025 and was even named captain. Although his performances with the bat were underwhelming, he remained in the squad for the five-match T20I series in Australia.
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