Shubman Gill, India’s ODI and Test captain, recently faced an unexpected bump in the road after being left out of the squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. It marked a rare disappointment in an otherwise steady international career. That said, the 25-year-old is set to return to action very soon, as he has been named in Punjab’s squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, which begins on December 24. India teammates Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek Sharma are also part of the squad.
A Surprise Omission at the International Level
Gill was recently tipped by the BCCI as India’s future all-format captain, making his exclusion from both the T20 World Cup squad and the T20I series against New Zealand all the more surprising. The decision followed a tough spell in T20 internationals over the past four months, where he scored 291 runs in 15 innings without registering a single half-century.
With the shortest format not going his way recently, Gill now has a chance to reset and refocus in domestic cricket.
A Chance to Make a Statement in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
The Vijay Hazare Trophy presents Gill with the perfect opportunity to remind selectors of his quality in white-ball cricket. Strong performances in the List A tournament could help him push his case ahead of future limited-overs selections.
However, there is some uncertainty around how long Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Arshdeep Singh will be available. India is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, followed by a five-match T20I series from January 21.
Punjab’s Domestic Schedule and Player Availability
Punjab has been drawn in a competitive group alongside Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa, and Mumbai. The league stage will wrap up on January 8, just a few days before India’s first ODI against New Zealand.
With reports suggesting that the BCCI has made it mandatory for centrally contracted players to participate in domestic tournaments until their next international assignment, Gill is expected to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at least until the ODI series begins.
Punjab, who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage last season, will play all seven of their league matches in Jaipur.
Read More
A Strong and Balanced Punjab Squad
Punjab has put together a powerful List A squad packed with aggressive batters and versatile all-rounders. The team includes Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Anmolpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, and Harpreet Brar, alongside India stars Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Arshdeep Singh.
The pace attack will be led by Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat, giving the side a solid bowling foundation.
Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy Squad
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Anmolpreet Singh, Uday Saharan, Naman Dhir, Salil Arora (wk), Sanvir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Raghu Sharma, Krish Bhagat, Gourav Choudhary, Sukhdeep Bajwa.
As the tournament begins, all eyes will be on Gill and how he responds, with the Vijay Hazare Trophy offering a timely platform to bounce back and lead from the front.
ALSO READ: U-19 Asia Cup 2025, IND vs PAK: Pakistan Won The Finals
