Shubman Gill to miss Punjab Ranji Trophy opener against Assam

India captain Shubman Gill will miss Punjab's Ranji Trophy 2026-27 opener against Assam in New Chandigarh starting Sunday. The batter could return for Punjab's second fixture against Chhattisgarh from 18 to 21 October, though no official reason has been given for his absence from the first match.

Uday Saharan will captain Punjab in Gill's absence. The former India Under-19 captain took over midway through last season and retains the role this year. International commitments keep Prabhsimran Singh and Naman Dhir out of the first two rounds, while Gurnoor Brar and Umesh Yadav form the pace attack.

Punjab have been drawn in a group with Saurashtra, Andhra and Karnataka. Gill is expected to play the first three ODIs against New Zealand before the Test series, using domestic cricket to build match readiness.