The physical and mental toll of non-stop cricket has caught up with one of India’s brightest stars. Shubman Gill, India’s premier opener and newly appointed white-ball captain, is battling a neck spasm ahead of the crucial second Test against South Africa in Guwahati—and now, respected former opener Aakash Chopra has issued a bold recommendation: skip the IPL 2026 altogether .
A neck spasm might sound minor, but in elite sport, it’s often a symptom of chronic fatigue. Shubman Gill has been on the road almost non-stop since January 2025, featuring in every major assignment:
That’s over 10 months of continuous high-intensity cricket with barely a break. His recent scores—while solid—show signs of mental exhaustion: missed starts, tentative footwork, and uncharacteristic shot selection in the Kolkata Test . The neck issue is the body’s alarm bell: stop before it’s too late.
Speaking on his widely followed analysis channel, Aakash Chopra didn’t shy away from tough love. “If workload is the issue—and it clearly is—then the logical step is to skip the IPL,” he stated bluntly .
Chopra emphasized that Gill isn’t just any player; he’s India’s batting linchpin across formats and the designated successor to Rohit Sharma in white-ball cricket. “You don’t protect a franchise asset,” Chopra argued. “You protect a national treasure. If he breaks down before the 2026 T20 World Cup or the 2027 ODI World Cup, it’s a massive loss for Indian cricket—not just for one T20 league.”
His advice echoes a growing sentiment among ex-players and physios: the IPL, while lucrative and high-profile, should not come at the cost of a player’s international longevity—especially for core all-format stars.
No Indian player has shouldered a heavier load in 2025 than Gill:
| Format | Matches Played (2025) | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 10+ | 720+ |
| ODI | 18 | 850+ |
| T20I | 15 | 420+ |
| IPL | 16 | 520 |
That’s nearly 60 professional matches in less than a year—all while captaining his IPL side and leading India’s ODI team. Compare this to global peers: even Joe Root and Kane Williamson take scheduled breaks from franchise leagues to manage workload .
Yet, the BCCI’s “all-hands-on-deck” approach, coupled with IPL contractual obligations, leaves little room for rest. Gill’s situation highlights a systemic issue: India’s best players are treated as indestructible machines, not human athletes with limits.
Skipping the IPL is a complex decision with real consequences:
Historically, players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have skipped IPL editions for rest before World Cups—with positive results. Could 2026 be Gill’s turn?
Shubman Gill stands at a crossroads. One path leads to another IPL season, more fame, and more fatigue. The other leads to quiet recovery, strategic rest, and long-term greatness. Aakash Chopra’s advice—though radical—is rooted in care, not criticism. In an era where burnout is the silent epidemic of cricket, sometimes the bravest move isn’t to play through pain, but to step back and heal. India needs Gill fit, fresh, and firing for the next five years—not just the next five weeks.
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