Shubman Gill to miss Punjab's Ranji Trophy season opener
India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will miss Punjab’s opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Assam in New Chandigarh, but could turn out for the team’s second match against Chhattisgarh, scheduled from October 18 to 21.
Punjab will be led by former India U-19 captain Uday Saharan in Gill’s absence. There has been no official word on the reason for Gill’s unavailability for the opening fixture, although he could return to action in the following match.
The national selection committee has asked available international players to feature in at least one Ranji Trophy match. Ravindra Jadeja is representing Saurashtra, KL Rahul is turning out for Karnataka, while Gurnoor Brar and Akash Deep are featuring for Punjab and Bengal, respectively.
GILL’S RED-BALL PREPARATION
India’s congested international calendar this season has left limited opportunities for players to prepare specifically for each format. Gill has been a strong advocate for cricketers getting sufficient red-ball practice before important Test assignments, making a possible Ranji Trophy appearance particularly significant.
Gill is not part of the India A squad and could use Punjab’s fixture against Chhattisgarh to spend valuable time in the middle ahead of India’s tour of New Zealand. He is expected to feature in the first three ODIs against the Black Caps before the Test series begins.
India are scheduled to play two Tests in New Zealand in November, an important assignment in their World Test Championship campaign. The team currently sits fifth in the standings with a points percentage of 51.52 and needs to finish in the top two to qualify for the final.
With crucial Test matches ahead, opportunities to build rhythm and sharpen technique in domestic cricket could prove valuable for Gill and other players in India’s set-up.
BUSY TEST CALENDAR
India’s schedule does not ease after the New Zealand tour. The team is due to face Australia in a five-Test series at home beginning in January 2027, adding further importance to preparation for the longest format.
A Ranji Trophy outing would give Gill a chance to get accustomed to red-ball cricket before these demanding assignments. However, his availability for Punjab’s second fixture against Chhattisgarh has not been officially confirmed.
In his absence against Assam, Saharan will lead Punjab as they begin their campaign. The former India Under-19 captain will be tasked with guiding the side through its opening match before attention potentially shifts to Gill’s availability for the Chhattisgarh fixture.
For Gill, the possibility of returning to domestic cricket comes at a crucial point in India’s season, with both immediate international commitments and the team’s longer-term World Test Championship ambitions in focus.
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