After being left out of Team India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has decided to return to domestic cricket to improve his game. The right-hander is spending time training at the PCA Stadium in Mohali and is set to play two matches for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Gill has a big white-ball phase ahead of him, which includes the ODI series against New Zealand, the Indian Premier League 2026 and the limited-overs tour of England thereafter. Gill will lead the Men in Blue in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to begin in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11.
Shubman Gill’s poor T20I form led to him being dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad
Shubman Gill was dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad after struggling for form in the shortest format for a long time. The selectors and team management took a tough decision and decided to drop Gill from the World Cup squad.
Gill returned to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup 2025, where he scored 127 runs in seven matches at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19. The opener’s inconsistency has raised concerns about his place in the playing eleven. After this, India toured Australia for a five-match T20 series.
Gill scored 132 runs in five matches at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 136.08. He also failed to make a strong impact in the subsequent series against South Africa. Since returning to the T20 team, Gill has scored 291 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.25, without scoring a single half-century.
After the defeat in T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill turned to domestic cricket.
Shubman Gill’s omission from India’s T20 World Cup plans came as a surprise to many, given his role in the leadership group across all formats. The decision was influenced by his poor form in T20 cricket, with three selectors and the captain opting to move away from him ahead of the tournament.
After being dropped, Gill is set to return to domestic cricket as part of his comeback plan. The Test and ODI captain will represent Punjab in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Punjab Cricket Association officials have confirmed that Gill will play in Punjab’s group matches against Sikkim (January 3) and Goa (January 6). Both the matches are to be played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
After being out of T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill focused on preparation
According to RevSportz, Shubman Gill was informed just minutes before the squad announcement, while he was still with the T20I squad in Ahmedabad. This lack of clarity proved frustrating for Gill, who has consistently talked about the importance of transparent communication.
Despite sharing a good working relationship with Gautam Gambhir, there is a sense of disappointment over how the situation was handled. Gill has since focused his attention completely on his preparation and has taken part in long batting sessions at the PCA Stadium to work on his basics and discipline.
The opening batsman has also increased his focus on fitness, an area which has troubled him at crucial moments in recent times. He will look to carry the momentum into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing as the leading scorer across all formats in 2025 with 1,764 runs.
Also read: Virat Kohli participation in Vijay Hazare Trophy: Return date and protest revealed
