Spasms, also known as muscle cramps can be painful to suffer from. In the now concluded 1st Test between South Africa and India, Indian captain, Shubman Gill, had to retire hurt on 4 when he felt discomfort in his neck. He was taken to hospital. It was identified that he had suffered a neck spasm. The BCCI subsequently announced that he would be withdrawn from the match and take no further part. Rishbabh Pant was the stand-in captain.
This news sparked my interest in learning more on the matter.
They refer to when your muscle involuntarily and forcibly contracts uncontrollably and can’t relax. Muscle spasms are normal and quite common. They can involve part or all of a muscle or several muscles in a group. You can get muscle spasms anywhere in your body (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Most of the time, muscle spasms aren’t something to worry about. In some cases, muscle cramps can indicate an underlying neurological condition. These conditions affect your brain — your brain helps your muscles move. When involuntary muscle movements result from a neurological condition, it’s called dystonia (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
If you have chronic muscle cramps, along with other symptoms like pain, muscle weakness or poor coordination, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. They can help determine if you have an underlying neurological issue (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
If muscle spasms result from a neurological condition, you may develop additional symptoms like: muscle pain; muscle weakness; paralysis; numbness; co-ordination issues; difficulty sleeping and vision issues (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
There’s no pill or injection that instantly relieves muscle spasms. There are things you can do to try and stop muscle cramps fast: stretch the affected area; massage the affected area with your hands or a massage roller; stand up and walk around; apply heat or ice and take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
If you have severe or frequent muscle spasms, a healthcare provider may prescribe muscle relaxers to help ease your symptoms. Muscle relaxers can cause drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. As a result of these side effects, this medication may not be a long-term solution. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of muscle relaxers (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
In Gill's position, neck spasms have many causes. The most common are neck sprains or strains. You have more than 20 muscles in your neck and various ligaments, nerves and tendons. Even minor tissue damage to these parts or overexertion can cause the surrounding muscles and tissue to tighten in response, causing spasms. It’s rare but sometimes a serious injury or health condition may cause neck spasms (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
Common causes of neck spasms include: having poor posture; cradling a cellphone using your neck; craning your neck to stare at a computer, TV or cellphone screen for too long; carrying a heavy bag over one shoulder; straining your neck muscles during exercise; clenching or grinding your teeth when you’re asleep; carrying a heavy object (especially using one arm); holding too much tension in your neck because of stress; sleeping in a position that prevents your head and body from being aligned; using a pillow that doesn’t provide your neck enough cushion or support and not drinking enough fluids (dehydration). Neck spasms may also be "idiopathic," which means healthcare providers can’t pinpoint an exact cause (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
A healthcare provider will diagnose neck spasms by examining your neck and asking about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll ask you to describe your pain and identify other symptoms you’re experiencing. Tell your healthcare provider about any recent injuries you’ve experienced or activities that may have caused the spasms (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
They may order additional tests if they suspect a more serious medical condition is causing your spasms (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has been discharged from the Woodlands hospital after receiving treatment for his neck injury that he sustained during the first Test between India and South Africa in Kolkata.
Sourav Ganguly, president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), went to see Gill at the Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital after India suffered a 30-run defeat on a challenging Eden Gardens surface to concede a 1-0 lead to the visitors in the two-match series.
Gill suffered the injury while batting on the second day of the game. He was ruled out of the first Test before the start of the third day's play. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had the development at the start of the third day.
"Captain Shubman Gill had a neck injury on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of the day's play. He is currently under observation in the hospital. He will take no further part in the Test match. He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team," BCCI said in a statement ahead of Day 3's play.
Gill batted for a bit on Day 2 of the clash. He retired hurt on four after experiencing pain in his neck when he swept Simon Harmer for a boundary. The Indian Board had confirmed that the skipper had neck spasms. "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 wrote in a statement on Day 2.
Due to the injury, the skipper wasn't available to bat as he was in the hospital on Day 3 of the match, as India lost the game by 30 runs. India were favourites to win the game after having had South Africa down to 93-7 with the Proteas having a lead of 63. However, Temba Bavuma (55*) and Corbin Bosch (25) took them to 153.
India were asked to chase 124, which they failed to do as they were bowled out for 93.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, India coach, Gautam Gambhir, said that the medical team is still checking Gill’s condition and a call will be taken on Monday. Gill was hospitalised in Kolkata last evening and didn't come to the stadium today. He underwent scans at the hospital and the reports are still awaited.
"He is still being assessed. The physios will take a call today evening and we’ll take a call tomorrow," Gambhir said. This means India will wait one more day before making a final decision on Gill’s availability for the crucial second Test in Guwahati.
The 2nd Test will take place between 22 November and 26 November.
Spasms can clearly be detrimental. It looks like it should be avoided at all costs. It's always ideal to stay healthy and avoid injuries. Injuries can shorten one's career and, even worse, their lives.
I hope Shubman Gill overcomes the spasm without any lasting effects. Obviously, I hope all of this happens after the series. Gill is a highly dangerous player to face. Teams should always try and avoid facing players who can cause great damage to them.
Reference List
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps). Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps (Accessed: 16 November 2025).
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Neck Spasms. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24462-neck-spasms (Accessed: 16 November 2025).