Shubman Gill (Source:X)
Shubman Gill had a disappointing start to his Ranji Trophy comeback, getting out for a two-ball duck as Punjab struggled against Saurashtra on Day 1 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground C in Rajkot.
Shubman Gill walked in to bat at number five but failed to make an impact, leaving Punjab at 73 for 4. The star player returned to domestic cricket with hopes of regaining form and confidence in the longer format.
Shubman Gill's Ranji trophy return ends quickly
Gill came to the crease after Nehal Wadhera fell for six with a hope to stabilise the innings for Punjab. Unfortunately, he faced spinner Parth Bhut, who struck Gill on the pads. The umpire gave him out LBW, ending his innings after just two deliveries.
Opener Prabhsimran Singh showed some resilience by scoring 44 runs, but the lack of support from the other batters had put Punjab in a difficult position. By Tea on Day 1, Punjab trailed by 85 runs, leaving their chances to take control of the match uncertain.
Harnoor Singh also failed to make any impact as he departed for a duck as an opener. After Shubman Gill, Anmolpreet Singh tried to stabilise, scoring 35 runs off 34 balls.
Punjab Fail to Capitalise after Saurashtra’s low total
Punjab, led by Gill, had an opportunity to take charge after bowling Saurashtra out for 172. However, their middle and lower-order failed to take advantage of the low score.
With wickets falling steadily, the team's hopes of gaining momentum in the match were dampened.
Punjab currently sits sixth in Elite Group B, with 11 points from one win, one loss, and three draws in five rounds. The team is set to face Karnataka in its final group stage match on January 29 in Mohali, where Gill is expected to be available.
It is important to mention that the Indian Test and ODI captain had been left out of the New Zealand T20I series and the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Shubman Gill was in impressive form last year against England. The star player played 10 innings and made 754 runs at an average of 75.40. After that, his form dipped, and he made just four runs in two innings against South Africa.
Overall, looking at his Test stats last year, Shubman Gill played 9 matches and scored 983 runs at an average of 70.21.
According to recent reports, Gill head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar want Indian players to Ranji matches before joining for IPL 2026.
Sarfaraz Khan shines for Mumbai
While Punjab struggled, Sarfaraz Khan led Mumbai's charge against Hyderabad in another Ranji Trophy encounter.
Sarfaraz, who was dropped from India’s Test squad, played aggressively and reached 86 runs by Tea on Day 1. His performance was supported by Siddhesh Lad and Musheer Khan, ensuring Mumbai reached 204 for 3.
Hyderabad’s Mohammed Siraj conceded 41 runs in 15 overs while taking the wicket of opener Akash Anand.
