NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill has been released from the hospital where he was being treated for the neck injury he picked up during the opening Test against South Africa.

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly visited Gill at Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital on Sunday, shortly after India slipped to a 30-run defeat on a demanding Eden Gardens surface, handing the visitors a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Gill suffered the injury while batting on Day 2 and was officially ruled out of the Test before play began on the third morning. He did not come out to bat in India’s second innings, which ended at a disappointing 93.

The team management is yet to take a final call on his availability for the second Test in Guwahati starting November 22. The squad is scheduled to travel on Tuesday.

Not the best Test wicket: Ganguly

Ganguly later admitted that the Eden Gardens pitch “was not the best Test wicket”, though he maintained that India should have comfortably chased 124.

“There is no controversy. It wasn’t the best Test pitch but India still should have knocked off 120. Gambhir said this is the kind of surface they wanted and that the instructions came from them,” Ganguly told reporters after the match.

“Yes, that is correct, instructions were given. And as I’ve said earlier, I respect Gautam a lot; he has contributed massively for India in England, in ODIs, and in T20s. We will move forward, but good Test pitches are essential,” he added.

Ganguly praised Gautam Gambhir’s early work as head coach but also stressed the critical importance of Mohammed Shami to India’s Test setup, making it clear that the senior pacer must remain central to the team.

“He must trust Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami. And the spinners are the ones who win you Test matches.”

Ganguly also offered a broader message to the Test team regarding their approach.

“Test matches should be won in five days, not three,” he said.

This defeat was India’s fourth loss at home in their last six Tests, following the 0-3 collapse against New Zealand on spin-friendly tracks in Pune and Mumbai last year. The setback has once again sparked debate about the Indian batting lineup’s struggles on sharply turning pitches.

(With PTI Inputs)