India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill is gearing up for a comeback in domestic cricket, with confirmation that he will feature in Punjab’s upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. Officials from the Punjab Cricket Association have indicated that the star batter has committed to playing in the group’s fixtures against Sikkim on January 3 and Goa on January 6, both scheduled in Jaipur.
Gill has been sidelined recently following a foot injury sustained during a practice session ahead of the fourth T20I against South Africa. This issue forced him to miss subsequent games in that series. Earlier, a neck problem had also kept him out of action, including a Test match against the same opponent. While teammate Abhishek Sharma has already represented Punjab in the tournament’s early stages, Gill has been focusing on rehabilitation and net practice in Mohali.
Gill was notably omitted from India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin in February. The decision stemmed from considerations around team balance and recent form in the shortest format, despite his role as vice-captain in T20Is. The exclusion came as a surprise to many, given his established position in the leadership hierarchy across formats. Apparently three selectors and the captain wanted to move away from Gill before the T20 World Cup owing to lack of form.
Sources close to the situation describe it as a shaky phase for the young skipper, marked by no prior communication from selectors and management. Notably, Gill was informed about his non-selection minutes before the T20 World Cup squad was announced in a press conference, when he was still with the T20I squad in Ahmedabad. When Gill was named the captain of the Test side and eventually the ODI squad, one aspect he wanted to focus on was ‘clear communication’ with players, something which was not respected in his case. A sense of being let down is there. Even though Gill and Gambhir share an excellent rapport, it remains to be seen whether the two will have the same camaraderie when the team links up for the ODIs.
Still part of the core leadership group in Tests and ODIs, Gill is now channeling his energy into preparation for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, where he will lead the side. Extended batting drills at the PCA Stadium have been a key part of his routine, emphasising discipline and core techniques regardless of external pressures. Along with batting, Gill has been focusing on his fitness as well, which has let him down in crucial junctures at recent times.
Though those close to Gill has been left surprised by the kind of criticism he has attracted on social media in recent months, they express strong belief in Gill’s resilience. A solid performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could serve as the ideal platform to regain momentum. His track record remains impressive…after topping international run charts in 2023 with over 2,000 runs, he finished 2025 as the leading scorer across formats, accumulating 1,764 runs.
In the coming days, Gill plans to balance family time during the holidays with rigorous training sessions at the PCA Stadium before hitting the ground running in Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 3 and 6.
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