Punjab have received a timely lift in their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, with Shubman Gill set to return for the upcoming group stage matches. His availability comes at a crucial stage of the tournament as Punjab push for a spot in the knockout rounds of India’s premier domestic one-day competition.
Shubman Gill has confirmed that he will turn out for Punjab in their next two matches against Sikkim on January 3 and Goa on January 6 in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
India’s Test and ODI captain is expected to link up with the Punjab squad in Jaipur around New Year’s Day, strengthening a side that has already made a positive start to the season.
A Big Addition to a Confident Punjab Side
Punjab have begun their Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 journey on a strong note, registering wins over Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The return of Gill adds serious quality and experience to the top order as the team heads into important matches that could decide their qualification fate.
The right-handed batter’s presence is expected to give Punjab’s batting lineup more stability and firepower. There is also some optimism that Shubman Gill could feature in Punjab’s final group game against Mumbai, although that decision will depend on clearance from the BCCI.
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The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) was quoted as saying by Sportstar: “He will join the team in Jaipur around January 1 for those two games. While he is interested in playing the final group league fixture against Mumbai as well, it will all depend on the BCCI’s scheduling for the camps ahead of the home series against New Zealand.”
Balancing Domestic Cricket and India Duty
Shubman Gill’s return to domestic action comes with a tight schedule, as he is also set to lead India in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11. Ahead of the series, the national side is expected to have a short preparation camp, likely to be held in Vadodara.
If the camp clashes with Punjab’s final group match, Shubman Gill may have to miss the game against Mumbai and report early for national duty. For now, his participation is confirmed only for the matches against Sikkim and Goa, with his third appearance still uncertain.
Working His Way Back After Injury
Gill has been away from competitive cricket for some time after dealing with injury concerns. He was recovering from an impact injury to his right foot, which forced him to miss the final T20I against South Africa. He also sat out the second Test in Guwahati last month due to a neck issue.
During his recovery period, Gill stayed in Mohali and focused on training and rehabilitation, choosing not to rush back into action during the ongoing 50-over tournament.
Domestic Cricket Back in Focus
Gill’s decision to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy follows the BCCI’s directive that all centrally contracted players must participate in domestic tournaments when fit and not on national duty.
As the group stage progresses, Punjab will be keen to make the most of Gill’s white-ball experience and class. In recent weeks, several top Indian players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Rinku Singh have also grabbed attention with impressive performances for their domestic sides, adding extra excitement to the competition.
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