'Storm forges steady hands': Shubman Gill's message after India's defeat
What's the story
Shubman Gill, the captain of the Indian men's Test cricket team, has called for patience and unity after India suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa. The loss in Guwahati was India's heaviest-ever defeat in Test cricket history, by a whopping 408 runs. It also marked South Africa's first Test series victory in India in 25 years.
Resilience
Gill's message of resilience amid pressure
Gill, who is recovering from a neck injury that ruled him out of the match and upcoming ODI series, took to X to share a message of resilience with fans and teammates. "Calm seas don't teach you how to steer, it's the storm that forges steady hands. We'll continue to believe in each other, fight for each other, and move forward - rising stronger," he wrote.
Recovery
Gill's journey to recovery and future plans
Despite his injury, Gill had traveled with the team to Guwahati. However, after a medical assessment, he was found unfit and later went to Mumbai for consultation with specialist Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. He has now been ruled out of the three-match ODI series starting November 30 but is likely to be reassessed ahead of the T20Is starting December 9.
Leadership
India's performance and future leadership decisions
In the recent Test match, India were bowled out for 140 while chasing an improbable target of 549. South African spinner Simon Harmer wreaked havoc on the batting order with career-best figures of 6-37. With both Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer unavailable, selectors now have to make temporary leadership and lineup changes for ODIs. KL Rahul will lead the side in this series.
Twitter Post
Gill's reaction!
Calm seas don’t teach you how to steer, it’s the storm that forges steady hands. We’ll continue to believe in each other, fight for each other, and move forward - rising stronger. 🇮🇳
— Shubman Gill (@ShubmanGill) November 26, 2025