JAIPUR, India: India’s Test and one-day international captain Shubman Gill was omitted from Punjab’s playing XI for their Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 match against Sikkim on Saturday, delaying his expected return from injury.
Gill, who had been sidelined for several weeks, was named among the substitutes for the Group-stage clash at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur, despite anticipation that the 25-year-old would resume competitive cricket for Punjab.
The right-handed batter has endured a difficult period marked by injuries. Gill suffered a neck spasm during the opening Test against South Africa, which ruled him out of the remainder of the Test series as well as the subsequent ODI leg.
Although he returned for the T20I series, Gill featured in only the first three matches before a foot injury forced him to miss the final two games. His struggles were compounded by his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held on home soil.
Punjab did not immediately provide a reason for Gill’s omission from the starting XI.
