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Before India's crucial two-match Test series against New Zealand, Shubman Gill had a dismal Ranji Trophy performance for Punjab, scoring only one run against Chhattisgarh
on the first day of their Elite Group B match at New Chandigarh on Sunday. After Vihaan Malhotra was dismissed on the first ball of the 26th over, the right-handed batsman entered at No. 4. After facing five deliveries, Ajay Mandal bowled him on the third ball of the 27th over. Gill's defense was undermined by Mandal, who left Punjab at 68/3 after the India captain had just managed a single on the second ball of his innings.
Shubman Gill Fails In Ranji Trophy Return
Gill was a last-minute addition to the squad, returning for some domestic red-ball cricket ahead of the New Zealand Test matches starting from November 19 onwards. Before this, he will feature in the first three ODIs of the five-match series against the Kiwis taking place from November 4 to 15, with his deputy Shreyas Iyer set to take the ODI captaincy armband once Gill leaves for Test preparation.
In three Tests this year, Gill has made 200 runs in four innings at an average of 50.00, with a ton and fifty each. He is enjoying an extraordinary international cricket run on the back of incredibly rich form in ODIs. Across 15 international matches this year, Gill has made 1,095 runs at an average of 91.25, with four centuries and six fifties in 15 innings, with a best score of 223* against West Indies in the second ODI.
Punjab Squad: Harnoor Pannu, Vihaan Malhotra, Shubman Gill, Uday Saharan (capt), Jashanpreet Sidhu, Salil Arora (wk), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Emanjot Chahal, Harjas Tandon, Gurnoor Brar, Gursimran Singh, Sanvir Singh, Umesh Yadav.
During the upcoming six-week tour, India will play two Tests and five ODIs, with Gill leading the Indian team in both formats. The Test series will be crucial to India's efforts to stay in the running for a spot in the World Test Championship final; meanwhile, the limited-overs matches will be a part of the team's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
With ANI Inputs
