Shubman Gill confirmed for Ranji duty, set to replace Rohit Sharma as India captain after...

Young Indian batter Shubman Gill is expected to play for his state team, Punjab, in their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Karnataka. Shubman Gill's return to the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 comes amidst growing discussions about the importance of India's star players prioritizing domestic cricket.

Shubman Gill struggled with form during the five-match Test series against Australia, where the India national cricket team lost 1-3. He missed the first Test due to a finger injury and scored low runs in the following matches. The right-handed batter registered scores of 31, 28, and 1 in the next two matches.

He was dropped from the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test due to tactical reasons but returned in the next match. Shubman batted at No. 3 in the final Test match but scored only 20 and 13 runs. Gill's performance was underwhelming throughout the series, with concerns raised about his consistency.

Shubman Gill Set to Make Ranji Trophy Comeback After Over Two Years

Shubman Gill, considered one of India's promising cricket talents, has yet to make a significant impact in Test cricket. He is set to return to the Ranji Trophy after more than two years when the 2024/25 season resumes on January 23.

Punjab, the team he plays for, is currently second in Group C of the tournament, behind Karnataka, with both teams having won six of their first seven matches, separated only by net run rate. Excluding the Duleep Trophy in September 2024, Gill has played just one red-ball domestic game in the past four years.

He last played in the Ranji Trophy in June 2022 during the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh, where he scored 9 and 19 runs in a 10-wicket loss and even bowled an over. This match was also his only appearance in the tournament after his Test debut in December 2020.

Shubman Gill's Leadership Role to Begin with ODIs for India

RevSportz journalist Rohit Juglan took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share that Gill is likely to take on a leadership role in the Indian team after the Champions Trophy. Juglan stated that Gill's leadership role would start with ODIs for India.

"Break - Shubman Gill will play the upcoming Ranji trophy game vs Karnataka & after Champions Trophy you will see Gill in leadership role starting with ODI’s (India)," Rohit Juglan tweeted.

Break - Shubman Gill will play the upcoming Ranji trophy game vs Karnataka
& after Champions Trophy you will see Gill in leadership role starting with ODI’s (India)

— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) January 13, 2025

Will Rohit Sharma Play in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25?

Apart from Gill, Indian captain Rohit Sharma may participate in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, but his participation is yet to be confirmed. The 37-year-old has informed the Mumbai team management of his intention to join their practice session on Tuesday. Mumbai's next match is against Jammu and Kashmir.

"Rohit will come to train today with the Ranji trophy team," an MCA source told Hindustan Times.

"Rohit hasn't told us whether he will be available for the Ranji match on January 23. He will confirm to us in due course," the source said.

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma handed brutal 'You're finished' warning