Rishabh Pant is captaining India in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, taking charge after Shubman Gill was ruled out ahead of the match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

Pant, who was serving as vice-captain, handled leadership duties for most of the first Test when Gill was unavailable, stepping in as stand-in skipper during the Kolkata match.

A neck spasm sidelined Gill from the second game, with the BCCI confirming his withdrawal on November 21, just one day before the game.

“Shubman Gill, India’s skipper, has been sidelined from the second Test in Guwahati after suffering a neck injury during the opening match against South Africa,” the board stated.

The Indian Cricket Board revealed that Gill accompanied the squad to Guwahati on November 19, but he wasn’t fit enough to take part in the second Test and has travelled to Mumbai for additional evaluation of his injury. With Gill ruled out, Rishabh Pant stepped in to lead the side.

Pant’s appointment made him India’s 38th Test skipper, placing him alongside legends Lala Amarnath, C.K. Nayudu, Bishan Singh Bedi, and many others. With Pant becoming India’s 38th Test captain, the side now matches the West Indies for the third-most captains in Test cricket’s history.

Teams with the most number of captains in Test cricket: