Out-of-form Gill to join Punjab Ranji side for game against Karnataka

The top-order batter's last Ranji Trophy appearance for Punjab was in 2022, when he played against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-finals in Alur

New Delhi: India’s top-order batter Shubman Gill is set to join Punjab for the team’s sixth-round Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka in Bengaluru on January 23, days after a below-par show in the Test series against Australia.

Gill had scored just 93 runs from three matches in Australia at an average of 18.60, with a highest score of 31. India lost the five-match series 1-3.

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During the series, head coach Gautam Gambhir had spoken about the need for senior players to show up in Ranji games if they were truly committed to red-ball cricket.

The BCCI brass has also been vocal in insisting that stars should not opt out of domestic marquee events if the international schedule allows them a window to turn up.

Gill’s last Ranji Trophy appearance for Punjab was in 2022, when he played against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-finals in Alur. The Punjab squad is yet be announced but according to a report in ‘Cricinfo’, Gill has confirmed his availability for the Ranji game.

Gill will have an opportunity to work with Wasim Jaffer, the highest run-getter in Ranji history Jaffer is now the Punjab coach.