With India entering a must-win situation for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, the main point of worry has been captain Shubman Gill's injury. After injuring his neck during the Kolkata Test, Gill has reportedly been ruled out of the upcoming match, triggering concerns over his growing workload across formats. Meanwhile, former cricketer-turned commentator Aakash Chopra revealed a piece of advice from head coach Gautam Gambhir regarding India's workload-management dilemma.
Gill's neck spasm, which forced him to retire hurt in the first innings and miss the entire second innings, has grabbed immense attention. This is his second neck-related issue in just over a year, and medical experts have advised him to get more rest to avoid aggravating the condition.
Notably, Gill has been carrying substantial responsibility as he captains India in Tests and ODIs and also served as T20I vice-captain for the 2025 Asia Cup, and continues to lead the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. This heavy calendar triggered conversations around whether the 26-year-old needs more structured workload management. Chopra, speaking about the rising narrative, shared advice from Gambhir. According to Chopra, Gambhir revealed that if a player feels overworked, the IPL is the place to cut down.