Shubman Gill [Source: @OneCricketApp/x]
Indian Test captain Shubman Gill got retired hurt at just four from three balls against South Africa on Day 2 of the series-opening first Test match at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After arriving at the crease at 75-2 in the 35th over of the innings, the cricketer suffered neck cramps and walked off the field.
Notably, he did so when Team India’s score reached 79-2 in 34.5 overs, at the time when the hosts found themselves another 80 runs away from South Africa’s first innings total of 159.
Same date, same story as injury curse follows Shubman Gill
The moment at Eden Gardens drew an unexpected parallel to a familiar 2023 ICC World Cup memory, stirring a sense of déjà vu around Shubman Gill’s brief stay at the crease. In the second semifinal of the tournament, also played on November 15, albeit at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a young Shubman retired hurt after he reached 79* from 65 balls against the New Zealand bowlers.
On Saturday, November 15, just recently at the Eden Gardens, the 26-year-old retired hurt at 4* albeit as India captain this time, when India’s score reached 79-2.
Another striking similarity between the two incidents beyond the recurring shadow of 79, is the fact that while Team India was in pursuit of South Africa’s 159 in the Eden Gardens Test at the time of Shubman Gill’s injury, they had reached 159-1 in 22.2 overs back in the semifinal of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
IND vs SA 1st Test: The story so far
Nonetheless, Team India reached 138-4 in 45 overs by the time of lunch break on Day 2 of the first Test. Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel will resume the Indian innings batting at 11* and 5* respectively.
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah skittled the South Africans for just 159 with a record five-fer on the opening day, while Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each in the innings.
