Vijay Hazare Trophy: After India snub, Shubman Gill back in spotlight as Punjab stack firepower

NEW DELHI: India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill will return to the domestic spotlight after a rare setback in his international career, with the Indian star named in Punjab’s 18-member squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy beginning December 24. Gill’s inclusion headlines a power-packed Punjab side that also features Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh, as the team looks to mount a strong title challenge in India’s premier 50-over competition.

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Gill’s presence carries added significance after he was left out of India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand. For Gill, the Vijay Hazare Trophy now presents an opportunity to reset, rediscover rhythm, and remind selectors of his class in the white-ball format.




Punjab open their campaign against Maharashtra on December 24 and will play all seven league matches in Jaipur. The side, which exited at the quarter-final stage last season, boasts a formidable batting core with Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh and Harpreet Brar complementing Gill and Abhishek at the top and middle order.

Abhishek Sharma’s inclusion adds further intrigue, with the aggressive all-rounder expected to play a key role in Punjab’s run-scoring ambitions. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, Punjab’s leading wicket-taker in the 2024–25 edition, will spearhead the bowling attack once again, supported by Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat. His ability to strike early and close out innings makes him central to Punjab’s hopes.

However, the availability of Gill, Abhishek and Arshdeep remains uncertain beyond the league stage, with India scheduled to play three ODIs against New Zealand from January 11, followed by a five-match T20I series starting January 21.

Punjab find themselves in a competitive group alongside Mumbai, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, with league fixtures concluding on January 8.

Punjab's Vijay Hazare Trophy 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.

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