Correspondent, 18 October: Indian team captain Shubman Gill delivered a highly disappointing performance in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 ahead of the upcoming New Zealand tour. Playing for Punjab at the Mullanpur Stadium on Sunday, Gill was dismissed after scoring just one run.
During the match against Chhattisgarh, Gill stepped up to bat at the number four position. His objective was to practice with the red ball and regain his lost rhythm. However, his stay at the crease lasted for only five deliveries before he was clean bowled for a single run.
The wicket was claimed by Chhattisgarh's left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal. After pitching, Mandal's delivery maintained its line and turned inward. Before Gill could read the trajectory and attempt a defensive shot, the ball sped through the gap between his bat and pad, crashing directly into the middle stump. This dismissal shattered his hopes of playing a substantial innings during the first session.
A five-match T20 series between India and New Zealand has already concluded, and a five-match ODI series is now scheduled to be played. Furthermore, the Indian squad will soon embark on a six-week tour of New Zealand. During this tour, Gill will captain India in a series comprising five ODIs and two Test matches.
The upcoming tour is viewed as highly crucial for the Indian team's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup and their prospects of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. However, Gill getting dismissed so cheaply by a local spinner on home soil, right before confronting fast pitches overseas, is being regarded as a matter of concern for the team management.
