Team India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill is set to play for Punjab in the remainder of the 2025-26 domestic season. After missing out on the T20 World Cup 2026 squad, Gill has been included in the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is also expected to feature for his state side in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26.
With no immediate T20I commitments, Gill will focus on longer formats at the state level. Several players, such as Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Ramandeep Singh, and Harpreet Brar, are included in Punjab’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
However, Punjab are yet to confirm who will lead the team in the tournament. The delay in announcing the captain has caught the attention of fans, especially with Gill being one of the senior figures in the squad.
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Shubman Gill Set to Play Two Vijay Hazare Trophy Matches
According to a Times of India report, Shubman Gill will play two List A matches for Punjab in January. He is expected to play against Sikkim and Goa in Jaipur.
After completing his domestic commitments, Gill will return to international cricket. He is scheduled to join the Indian ODI squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, which begins in Vadodara and ends in Indore later in January.
“Shubman will be playing the two games in January – on 3rd and 6th – before joining the team for the ODI series versus New Zealand. He also wants to play the remaining rounds of Ranji Trophy for Punjab,” A PCA official told TimesofIndia.com.
Shubman Gill Set to Return to Red-Ball Domestic Cricket After New Zealand ODIs
Shubman Gill is expected to return to red-ball domestic cricket after India’s ODI series against New Zealand. Punjab will play two Ranji Trophy matches later in January, and Gill has already informed the state association that he is available and keen to play.
Punjab will face Saurashtra in Rajkot, followed by a home game against Karnataka in Mullanpur. The team is currently in sixth position with 11 points from five games, with only one win so far, but the remaining matches still offer a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals.
If Punjab manage to make the knockout stage, Gill could continue playing Ranji Trophy cricket into February. His involvement would be important as the team looks to revive its campaign and push for a spot in the later stages of the tournament.
Shubman Gill Left Out of India’s 15-Member Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Shubman Gill has been left out of India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, following a run of inconsistent performances in the shortest format.
Gill made his T20I debut in 2023 against Sri Lanka and returned to the setup during the Asia Cup 2025. However, he struggled to make a strong case after his comeback. In the Asia Cup, he scored 127 runs from 7 matches at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19.
Gill managed 132 runs in the five-match T20I series against Australia at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 136.08. In the most recent T20I series against South Africa, he scored only 32 runs from 3 matches at an average of 10.66 and a strike rate of 103.22.
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