Karun Nair ditched again, Shubman Gill replaced by another right-hander for Guwahati Test

The suspense around Shubman Gill’s availability for the second and final Test against South Africa, starting on November 22 in the Guwahati Test, has now turned into a major concern for India.

Even though Shubman Gill has travelled with the team to continue his treatment, the Indian captain is almost certain to miss the crucial Guwahati Test.

Gill is still recovering from the neck injury that he picked up during the first Test in Kolkata. The BCCI medical team will stay with him throughout the Guwahati trip, but he needs a dramatic recovery to even have a chance of playing in the must-win game for India.

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Shubman Gill doubtful for Guwahati Test as Sai Sudharsan set to reclaim No. 3 spot

As reported by RevSportz, Shubman Gill's neck exercises are expected to begin soon, but the specialists believe he needs at least five to seven days before he can be considered fit. With only a few days left before the final test, he is all but confirmed to be ruled out of the game.

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With Shubman Gill unlikely to take the field, India must now rebuild their batting order for this must-win Test. The biggest challenge is filling the No. 4 slot, and the most practical option for the team is Sai Sudharsan. The report suggested that Sai is returning to the playing XI.

He had missed the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata because India went with a different combination with Washington Sundar batting at No. 3. Now, Sai is expected to play at his regular No. 3 position, pushing Washington lower in the batting order.

India sticks with Dhruv Jurel at No. 4 but looks to Nitish Kumar Reddy for stability and balance

Dhruv Jurel will retain the No. 4 position, where he batted in the second innings when Shubman Gill was ruled out during the Kolkata Test. However, solving the No. 4 issue does not fix India’s biggest problem, and that is the heavy presence of left-handers.

In Kolkata, India had six left-handers in their batting lineup, and South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer made a mockery of them by taking eight wickets in the match. Harmer shot down all the left-handers at Eden Gardens, creating serious trouble for India on a turning pitch.

This is exactly why Nitish Kumar Reddy was recalled to the side. His right-handed batting and seam-bowling skills give India the balance they desperately need.

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The Guwahati conditions to decide who will make way for Nitish Kumar Reddy

Whether Nitish Kumar Reddy comes in for Axar Patel, who played as an extra spin-bowling all-rounder in Kolkata, will depend on what the conditions look like in Guwahati.

Conditions are expected to play a huge role in the final test. Guwahati is known for its early sunrise and early sunset, so the match will start at 9 AM each day. Tea will be taken after the first session, while lunch will be served after the second session.

The weather in mid-November also brings a slight chill, which means the ball could swing a bit more in the morning at the Barsapara Stadium. The match will be played on red-soil pitches, different from the black-soil surface India practised on at Eden Gardens.