Shubman Gill Hails BCCI Centre of Excellence for Timely Comeback Ahead of South Africa T20I Series

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for playing a decisive role in his swift and effective recovery from injury, enabling his return in time for the upcoming five-match T20 International series against South Africa.

Gill had suffered a neck injury during the opening Test against the Proteas in Kolkata last month. The setback forced him to miss the second Test as well as the subsequent three-match ODI series. Following the injury, Gill was sent to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for rehabilitation, where he underwent an intensive recovery and training programme. Now fully fit, he is set to don India colours once again when the Men in Blue begin their T20I campaign against South Africa on Tuesday.

The BCCI recently shared a video on social media featuring Gill speaking candidly about his recovery journey and the support he received at the Centre of Excellence. Expressing relief and gratitude, Gill said he is feeling significantly better and stronger after going through multiple phases of rehabilitation and skill-based training.

“I’m feeling much better. From the day I came here till now, I’ve had quite a few skill sessions and training sessions. I feel much, much better now,” Gill said. Describing the overall experience, he added that the Centre offers an unmatched environment for both physical and mental development. “From recovery to training, for an athlete, it can’t get any better. It’s like a paradise for athletes. You come here to get physically better, to get mentally better.”

Gill also spoke in detail about the state-of-the-art facilities available at the CoE and how they played a crucial role in accelerating his recovery. He highlighted cutting-edge recovery tools such as cryotherapy and oxygen chambers, which, according to him, significantly enhanced his rehabilitation process.

“You can’t ask for better facilities. The oxygen chamber, the cryo setup—some of the things I’ve used here for recovery have been absolutely amazing for me,” he said. “What really stood out was the sheer number of advanced machines—so many that I don’t even know how to use them. That itself tells you how big and advanced the setup is.”

Reflecting on his formative years, Gill recalled how visiting the National Cricket Academy (NCA), now the Centre of Excellence, was once considered a dream achievement for junior cricketers. He said that as an Under-14 and Under-16 player, earning a call-up to the NCA was seen as a mark of excellence.

“Growing up, playing Under-14 and Under-16 cricket, it was always a big thing if someone got selected for the NCA. Out of nearly 200 players in a state batch, only 25 to 30 would make it. When someone came back from the NCA, we would look at them differently. It was considered a huge achievement,” Gill recalled.

He said that young players always aspired to train at the NCA, as it represented entry into the elite circle of Indian cricket’s talent pipeline. “When you come here, you’re considered the cream of the crop. It tells you that you have the skill set to reach the next level. More importantly, the facilities here show you how to improve physically and mentally to get there,” he added.

Gill also paid glowing tribute to the trainers, coaches, and physiotherapists who work tirelessly behind the scenes at the Centre of Excellence. He stressed that while the infrastructure is world-class, it ultimately depends on how committed a player is to making the most of it.

“You’ve got all the coaches, trainers and physios here to work with you. But the real question is how willing you are to work on yourself. That mindset is what takes you to the next level compared to the rest,” Gill said, adding that every player who comes to the Centre has the opportunity to extract maximum benefit if they apply themselves fully.

With Gill now back in the Indian setup, all eyes will be on his return as India prepare to face South Africa in the first T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday. His comeback is expected to provide a major boost to the Indian batting lineup as the team looks to assert dominance in the shortest format against a strong South African side.

Team Maverick.