India bowling coach Morne Morkel has dismissed workload concerns after Shubman Gill suffered neck injury on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Morkel put the blame on ‘just a bad night’s sleep’ instead as Gill didn’t come out to bat after being retired hurt for just 4 runs.

The Indian captain didn’t look comfortable while batting and walked off the field after facing just three deliveries. Gill was reportedly stretchered out in an ambulance to a hospital in Kolkata, with his neck in a cervical collar.

Initially, the BCCI called it ‘neck spasms’ but more concerns have been raised since it was confirmed he had been admitted to Woodlands hospital and will be under observation on Saturday night.

“Yeah, I think we first need to determine how he got the neck stiffness, maybe just a bad night’s sleep. I don’t think it’s, or we can put it down to the load," Morkel replied when asked if Gill’s packed multi-format calendar was a factor, as quoted by PTI.

“Gill is a very fit guy, he looks after himself very well, so it’s just unfortunate this morning that he woke up with a stiff neck and that carried him into the day, which was crucial for us. Another sort of partnership with him batting around was going to be needed for us at the time, and… just bad timing," he added.

Since his appointment as Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill hasn’t missed a single international fixture. He has also been named Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy in the T20I format, which meant that while most Test players rested out in the recent three-T20I series against Australia, he played and batted in all matches.

“Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progress," BCCI said in a release.

In Gill’s absence, Rishabh Pant has been leading India in the ongoing Kolkata Test. At the close of play on Day 2, South Africa reached 93/7 in their second innings, leading the hosts by 63 runs.

(With PTI Inputs)