Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill once again flouted BCCI’s order to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he missed one of his first matches of the season against Sikkim. The batsman decided to play in the domestic ODI tournament after being dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad.
2025 was the most important year of his career for Indian youngster Shubman Gill as he was named the captain of the Indian team in Test and ODI formats, made a comeback in T20I for India and scored his first SENA century. However, this good year did not end well as he was dropped from the ICC T20 World Cup squad.
After missing out on a place in the T20 World Cup, possibly due to his poor form and lack of flexibility with the current Indian combination, Gill decided to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for his state team, Punjab, to prepare for the upcoming ODI competitions.
Why could Shubman Gill not play Punjab vs Sikkim match in Vijay Hazare Trophy?
Shubman Gill was to play for Punjab in the fifth round match against Sikkim in Jaipur on Saturday. Punjab is playing its matches Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground, which is located within a school campus and hence has no seating arrangements.
Gill, who was supposed to play for Punjab or, ideally, lead them in the match, missed the game due to travel issues. Gill’s flight landed in the city at around 2 am and was canceled twice before it could take off from Mohali. Reports have also revealed that his kitbag also arrived quite late.
“Gill’s flight from Mohali to Jaipur was canceled twice due to the fog that prevails in north India at this time of the year. He managed to reach Jaipur only at 2 pm. His kit bag also arrived very late,” a Punjab Cricket Association source told TOI on Saturday.
Shubman Gill will return to the Indian team for the ODI series against New Zealand.
Shubman Gill has missed several of India’s recent matches due to a neck injury and has been struggling for form in T20Is. As a result, he has been dropped from the shortest format ahead of the marquee tournament. Gill missed the tournament twice in two years.
However, the ODI captain, who missed the three-match series against South Africa, will return to take charge of the Indian team against New Zealand. The three-match ODI series is starting from January 11 in Vadodara.
However, Shubman Gill will get a long break after the ODI series, as the Indian team will play a five-match T20 series followed by a month-long ICC tournament. Citing IPL, India have no other series scheduled after the World Cup.
Arshdeep Singh’s dominance on his return to Vijay Hazare Trophy
Along with Gill, Indian left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was also supposed to make a comeback for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Arshdeep has been one of India’s busiest players, featuring in every ODI and T20I game against the Proteas.
The left-handed batsman dominated on his return to Indian domestic cricket and took five wickets against Sikkim. With 5/34 from his 10 overs, he helped Sikkim bowl out just 75 runs in 22.2 overs.
Before joining the T20 World Cup squad, Arshdeep Singh will play ODI and then T20 match against New Zealand. Arshdeep Singh was India’s leading wicket-taker in the victorious 2024 World Cup.
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