Shubman Gill’s return to competitive cricket has been delayed due to food poisoning, and he will miss Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage match against Sikkim in 2025-26. The opener was set to play the match in Jaipur on Saturday, January 3, after joining the domestic team ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
Shubman Gill had last played for Team India in the third T20I against South Africa on December 14 in Dharamshala. Then he injured his foot in the nets ahead of the fourth match, in Lucknow, and missed out on a place in squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup too.
Gill has been slogging it out in the nets and was certain to turn up for Punjab in a behind-closed-doors match. But he wasn’t named in the playing XI as the official team sheet said Prabhsimran Singh and Harnoor Singh will be opening.
According to Sportstar, Gill was forced to miss the match owing to illness.
“BREAKING: Shubman Gill’s return to domestic cricket has been delayed. According to team sources, he had to sit out of the Punjab vs Sikkim Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture due to food poisoning,” the report stated.
Shubman Gill had two Vijay Hazare Trophy games to play before the ODI series against New Zealand from January 11. Next match for Punjab is against Goa on January 6 and it remains to be seen if the star batter will regain fitness.
Punjab, meanwhile, have been severely affected by his absence, opting to bowl as they did and shot Sikkim out for 75 in 22.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers on his comeback to competitive cricket, and he picked 5 for.
Shubman Gill to lead India in ODIs at home for the first time during IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs
The home season is still a bit far on the horizon but Shubman Gill should be leading Team India in the ODI series against New Zealand. It will be the new captain’s first time leading the side in white-ball cricket on home soil.
His maiden ODI series as Captain resulted in a 1-2 loss against Australia in Australia and he was rested due to an injury when India played a three-match home ODI series against South Africa in November–December.
