Shubman Gill [Source: AFP]Shubman Gill will miss Punjab’s opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. As per the schedule, the Punjab cricket team will face Assam in their first Elite Group B match of the tournament between October 11 and October 14 at the Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh.It is worth noting that the initial fixtures of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season mark a crucial one for several India players, as they prepare themselves to get back into the Test groove before touring New Zealand.Shubman Gill ruled out of Punjab’s opening match, replacement captain namedShubman Gill will not be playing the opening match of the Punjab cricket team in the upcoming 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season from October 11 onwards as reported by News18. In his absence, former India U19 cricketer Uday Saharan will lead the side against Assam this weekend in New Chandigarh.Notably, Gill’s unavailability for the match comes without any official explanation, from the cricketer as well as from the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). As per reports, the elegant top-order batter will be expected to return to red-ball action for Punjab the following week for their second match of the competition against Chhattisgarh.ALSO READShubman Gill Gets 9 Out Of 10: India Players' Rating After ODI Series vs West IndiesWhile Shubman Gill will miss the opening week of the tournament, several other Team India stars like Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul and Akash Deep will be turning up for their respective teams. It is part of a directive issued by the BCCI men’s selection committee, currently led by Pragyan Ojha. Gill himself has been one of the leading advocates for players to play domestic cricket to get as much red-ball practise as possible for India Tests.Why it is important for Shubman Gill to play Ranji Trophy cricket?In just a few weeks, Shubman Gill will embark on his first-ever Test tour of New Zealand, as a captain no less.Team India players have generally struggled on New Zealand surfaces over the past decade-and-a-half, thus making the impending Ranji Trophy fixtures a must for Indian cricketers in a bid to get back into the red-ball groove.Since Gill will miss Punjab’s opening Ranji Trophy 2026-27 match, the senior pro can still play at least two matches for his domestic team before taking flight for New Zealand for the ODI and Test series.ALSO READNahid Rana's Availability For West Indies Tests Revealed
