Ranji Trophy: India’s Newly Appointed Vice-Captain Shubman Gill Falls for 4 against Karnataka

Shubman Gill's struggles continue as he made a disappointing return to domestic cricket in the Ranji Trophy while representing Punjab, managing to score only 4 runs against Karnataka. Having been sidelined due to dengue, Gill's form has not improved. Despite being appointed as India’s vice-captain, he has been unable to find his rhythm, and the Punjab Cricket Board was eager to have him back after the new BCCI policy came into effect. Consequently, he was offered the role of captain for the match against Karnataka, and his return to the Ranji Trophy was hoped to help him overcome his recent poor form.

Gill appeared confident as he began his innings against the Karnataka bowlers, showing intent. However, this confidence lasted only 7 deliveries before he was caught out, leaving the field with a score of 4 runs off 8 balls. The Punjab captain's dismissal did not contribute positively to the team's efforts.

This failure adds to Gill's ongoing challenges in red-ball cricket. Over his last 11 innings, he has managed only an average of 25.64, having crossed the 50-run mark just once. His struggles were further highlighted during the recent Test series against Australia, where he had a disappointing average of 18.60 across three Tests in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gill will be hoping for a turnaround in his performance soon.

However, Gill was not the only one to falter for Punjab; the entire batting lineup collapsed, registering a mere 55 runs. The Karnataka pacers delivered a remarkable performance, resulting in Punjab being all out for their lowest total in Ranji Trophy history. 

Looking back at the day, it’s clear that Shubman Gill wasn’t the only one to struggle. He joins a list of prominent Indian players, including Rohit Sharma (3), Yashasvi Jaiswal (4), Rishabh Pant (1), and Shreyas Iyer (11), who all faced similar difficulties in their return to domestic competition. Each of these top-order batsmen was dismissed cheaply, highlighting a rough day for Indian cricket's big names in the domestic arena.