Shubman Gill’s highly anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy was disappointing as he managed just one run against Chhattisgarh.
The match took place at the new PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on October 18. Gill, who is the captain of India’s Test and ODI teams, was dismissed by left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal, who bowled him out cleanly after he faced only five balls.
Gill came to bat at number four after Vihaan Malhotra was dismissed LBW by Dharmendra Singh Jadeja. The dismissal occurred on the third ball of the 27th over when Mandal’s delivery slipped between Gill’s bat and pads to hit the middle stump.
The 27-year-old did not play in Punjab’s first match of the season against Assam, but he participated against Chhattisgarh to practice red-ball cricket ahead of the . Although Gill is not part of the T20 squad, he is included in the Indian team for the upcoming tour, which features five T20 matches, five ODIs, and two Tests. This tour is crucial for preparations leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup and for maintaining India’s hopes in the World Test Championship (WTC) final race.
However, Gill will only play three ODIs and will miss the last two matches to prepare adequately for the in Christchurch and Wellington. Meanwhile, experienced fast bowler Mohammad Shami is absent from Bengal’s current match against Services at the Palam Air Force Complex Ground. Shami trained with the Bengal team on Saturday, but no official reason has been provided for his absence from the match.
In Shami’s place, his younger brother Mohammad Kaif has been included in the playing eleven. Shami had a stellar performance in Bengal’s first match against Delhi in Kalyani, where he took five wickets. Also missing from the Bengal squad are fast bowlers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, who are in as part of the India ‘A’ team for the red-ball series.
Shami has been a consistent player for Bengal in the past and current domestic seasons. He was part of the East Zone team that won the Duleep Trophy for 2026-27. However, he has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy and has once again been overlooked for the upcoming New