Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill will participate in Punjab’s second-round Ranji Trophy fixture against Chhattisgarh at New Chandigarh, with U19 former captain Uday Saharan leading the team, according to Cricinfo.
Gill has been included in the squad at the last minute as he prepares for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on November 19. Prior to the Test matches, he is expected to play in the first three One Day Internationals (ODIs) of the five-match series against New Zealand from November 4 to 15. Following this, his deputy, Shreyas Iyer, will assume ODI captaincy when Gill shifts focus to Test preparation.
In three Tests this year, Gill has accumulated 200 runs in four innings at an average of 50.00, including one century and one half-century. He has enjoyed an exceptional run in international cricket, building on prolific form in ODIs. Across 15 international matches this year, he has scored 1,095 runs at an average of 91.25, with four centuries and six half-centuries, and a highest score of 223 not out against West Indies in the second ODI.
In domestic first-class cricket, Gill has amassed 1,296 runs in 14 matches for Punjab, featuring five centuries and five half-centuries in 25 innings, with a top score of 268.
India’s tour coincides with an India A tour that includes three unofficial matches against New Zealand from October 24 to November 10. Gill will not participate in this series, missing the opportunity to acclimate to New Zealand conditions as the third unofficial Test runs from November 7 to 10, overlapping with the second and third ODIs. However, Indian Test openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are part of the India A squad for all three matches.
Gill is expected to bat at number four for Punjab, with Jashanpreet Sidhu likely to make way. The batting lineup will also include Prabhsimran Singh, who missed the campaign opener against Assam due to India A commitments against Australia A in the one-dayers.
Punjab secured three points from a first-innings lead against Assam in their opening match. Debutant Vihaan Malhotra, Emanjot Chahal and Salil Arora all scored centuries. The match also marked the return of veteran pacer Umesh Yadav to first-class cricket after two years. Yadav has joined Punjab as a guest player for the season and took his 16th first-class five-wicket haul.
The full Punjab squad for the match is: Harnoor Pannu, Vihaan Malhotra, Shubman Gill, Uday Saharan (captain), Jashanpreet Sidhu, Salil Arora (wicketkeeper), Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Ramandeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Emanjot Chahal, Harjas Tandon, Gurnoor Brar, Gursimran Singh, Sanvir Singh, and Umesh Yadav.