Shubman Gill named in the Punjab squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26

Star Indian batter Shubman Gill has been included in Punjab’s squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, marking his return to domestic cricket during a brief break from international duties. The Indian Test and ODI captain is set to represent his home state after being left out of the T20I squad for the series against New Zealand and the subsequent T20 World Cup 2026. Gill’s presence significantly strengthens the Punjab lineup, adding experience and leadership at the top of the order. Alongside him, fellow India internationals Abhishek Sharma and pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh have also been named in the squad, further boosting Punjab’s chances in the tournament.

Shubman Gill set to play Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 for Punjab

While Gill and Arshdeep are part of the domestic setup, both players are expected to feature in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, to be played at home, with Gill likely continuing as captain. This overlap has created some uncertainty regarding their full availability for Punjab. The team is scheduled to complete its league-stage fixtures in Elite Group C by January 8, leaving a narrow window before the ODI series begins just three days later in Vadodara. With tight scheduling and national commitments taking priority, it remains to be seen how many matches Gill and Arshdeep will be able to play for Punjab during the competition.

Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, is likely to be fully available for Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, as his international commitments begin later in the month. The left-handed batter is scheduled to link up with the Indian squad only ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand, which gets underway on January 21 in Nagpur. This timeline works in his favour, allowing him to devote his complete focus to domestic duties for the time being. With the Vijay Hazare Trophy final set to be played on January 18, Abhishek could potentially be available for the entire tournament, provided Punjab progress to the latter stages of the competition. His consistent presence would be a significant boost for the state side, both in terms of stability at the top of the order and overall balance in the batting unit. 

Punjab’s 15-member squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy boasts a formidable and well-balanced combination, highlighted by a strong batting unit capable of dominating opposition attacks. The line-up features several proven and emerging talents, including Uday Saharan, Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, and Naman Dhir, all of whom bring firepower, versatility, and depth to the batting order. Their presence ensures that Punjab have multiple options across the top and middle order, allowing the team to adapt to different match situations and conditions throughout the tournament.

In addition to the batting strength, the Punjab Cricket Association has also reinforced the squad with quality all-rounders and bowlers to maintain balance. Players such as Harpreet Brar, Gurnoor Brar, and Raghu Sharma add variety and depth to the bowling attack, while also offering useful contributions with the bat when required. This blend of youth and experience reflects Punjab’s intent to compete aggressively in the premier domestic 50-over competition. With a settled squad and several match-winners at their disposal, Punjab will be determined to make a strong push and finally secure their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title, a long-standing goal for the state side.

Punjab squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26

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