New Chandigarh, October 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill endured a disappointing return to the Ranji Trophy, scoring just one run before being bowled by left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal in Punjab’s second-round Elite Group B match against Chhattisgarh at the New PCA Stadium on Sunday.
Batting at number four after Vihaan Malhotra was trapped lbw by Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Gill faced just five deliveries. He was dismissed on the third ball of the 27th over when Mandal delivered a ball that held its line and slipped through the gap between bat and pad to hit the middle stump.
The 27-year-old had missed Punjab’s season-opening match against Assam but made himself available for the Chhattisgarh fixture to gain valuable red-ball practice ahead of India’s tour of New Zealand.
Although Gill is not part of India’s T20I squad for the tour, he is set to feature in the five-match ODI and two-Test series. The assignment will form part of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, while the Test series will also be important in their bid to remain in contention for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Gill is expected to play only the first three ODIs before sitting out the final two matches to prepare for the Test series, which is scheduled to be played in Christchurch and Wellington.
Meanwhile, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami missed Bengal’s ongoing second-round match against Services at the Air Force Complex ground in Palam.
Shami had trained with the Bengal squad on Saturday, but no official reason was given for his absence from the match. His younger brother, Mohammed Kaif, was included in the playing XI in his place.
Shami had begun the domestic season impressively, taking five wickets, including a four-wicket haul, in Bengal’s opening match against Delhi in Kalyani.
Bengal were also without pacers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, who have travelled to New Zealand to join the India A squad for the red-ball series.
Shami has been a regular feature for Bengal across the previous and current domestic seasons and was also part of the East Zone side that won the Duleep Trophy in the 2026-27 season.
However, he has not represented India since the 2025 Champions Trophy and was again left out of the squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.
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