Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes India will miss Shubman Gill in the second Test against South Africa but insists the hosts have sufficient bench strength to cover the absence of their regular captain.
Gill was released from the squad on Friday ahead of the second Test in Guwahati, after failing to fully recover from a neck spasm sustained while batting during the opening Test in Kolkata.
“Sometimes India’s strength is also a slight disadvantage. They have so many great players, and deciding who to bring in and who to leave out is a tough call,” Rhodes said. “It’s a great problem to have, and it shows that whenever there’s a gap to be filled, India has a multitude of options. It’s more a case of whichever player gets the opportunity.”
The 56-year-old South African noted that whoever is selected will face immense pressure to perform immediately due to the stiff competition for places in the Indian team.
“Are they grounded enough and focused enough to make the most of it? The big challenge with India’s setup is that in such a strong side, you might get only one opportunity. You’re not going to leave him (Gill) out later, so you probably have just one Test. Psychologically, that’s tough. But whichever player they pick, they have great talent,” Rhodes added during the FICCI TURF 2025 – 15th Global Sports Summit.
Rhodes also praised India’s succession planning, citing the seamless transitions following the careers of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. While Dhoni has retired and Kohli and Rohit now focus on limited formats, India continues to nurture young talent effectively.
“India has built on the capabilities of Dhoni and Kohli exceptionally well, with a clear succession plan. They ensure younger players get opportunities because the talent is there. And absolutely, these are great stars and fantastic role models for cricket in India,” Rhodes said.
The former South African also congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team for winning their maiden ODI World Cup.
“Hopefully, India starts giving the same love and support to the women’s team. Women’s cricket in India is set to skyrocket, and I want to see fans embrace them the same way,” he added.
