Rhodes: India Will Miss Gill But Has Strong Bench Strength

Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes India will feel the absence of Shubman Gill in the second Test against the Proteas, but says the team’s deep bench strength ensures capable replacements.

Gill was released from the Test squad on Friday ahead of the Guwahati Test starting Saturday, after failing to fully recover from a neck spasm suffered during the first innings of the opening Test in Kolkata.

Rhodes said India’s biggest advantage — having numerous talented cricketers — can also become a selection challenge.

“India has so many great cricket players. Who to bring in and who to leave out is a difficult call,” Rhodes said on the sidelines of FICCI TURF 2025 – 15th Global Sports Summit. “Every time there is a gap, India has multiple options. Whoever gets the opportunity must make the most of it.”

The former Proteas star added that competition within the Indian team is intense, and players often get only one chance to prove themselves.

“India’s set-up is so strong that you may get just one opportunity. You’re never dropping someone like Gill, so his replacement probably has only one Test to shine,” he said.

Rhodes also praised India’s strong succession planning, citing the transition from MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and emphasised the importance of giving younger players a platform.

He further lauded the Indian women’s cricket team for winning their maiden ODI World Cup, expressing hope that women’s cricket in India will receive equal admiration and fan support.

“Women’s cricket in India is going to skyrocket. I want to see the same love for the women’s team,” he said.