A neck spasm suffered by Shubman Gill in the first Test against South Africa is speculated to have significantly impacted India's performance, leading to a narrow loss and subsequent whitewash. This event is suggested to have amplified scrutiny on coach Gautam Gambhir's decisions regarding pitch selection and team personnel. The narrative also touches upon the debate surrounding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's potential return to Test cricket amidst these team struggles.