Snubbed for T20 WC, Gill turns to Vijay Hazare

Shubman Gill will look to use the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy as a platform to reclaim his white-ball status after being left out of India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 25-year-old, who has been named in Punjab’s squad for the List A tournament starting December 24, is set to return to competitive action with a point to prove.

Gill’s omission from both the T20 World Cup squad and the T20I series against New Zealand marked a rare setback in his international career. Despite being recently backed as India’s long-term all-format captain, the decision was taken following a lean run in T20 internationals over the past four months, during which he scored 291 runs from 15 innings without registering a single half-century.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy now presents Gill with an opportunity to remind selectors of his pedigree in white-ball cricket. He will be joined in the Punjab squad by India teammates Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek Sharma, adding further quality and experience to the side.

However, the availability of the trio remains subject to India’s international commitments. The national team is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, followed by a five-match T20I series from January 21. Punjab’s league-stage fixtures in the Vijay Hazare Trophy are set to conclude on January 8, just days before the ODI series begins.

With centrally contracted players reportedly required to participate in domestic competitions until their next international assignment, Gill is expected to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at least until the New Zealand series begins. Punjab, who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage last season, will play all seven of their league matches in Jaipur.

Placed in a competitive group alongside Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Mumbai, Punjab have assembled a strong squad packed with power-hitters and all-rounders. The batting lineup includes Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Anmolpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh and Harpreet Brar, alongside the India regulars. The pace attack will be led by Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat.

For Gill, the tournament represents more than just a domestic assignment. Strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could go a long way in reinforcing his credentials as one of India’s premier white-ball batters and in reopening the door to the national T20 setup.

Punjab squad:
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Anmolpreet Singh, Uday Saharan, Naman Dhir, Salil Arora (wk), Sanvir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Raghu Sharma, Krish Bhagat, Gourav Choudhary, Sukhdeep Bajwa.