Punjab will open its VHT 2025 against Maharashtra on December 24 in Jaipur.
After a rare setback in his international career, India's ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill will return to the spotlight at home after being selected for Punjab's 18-man squad for the forthcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT 2025), which starts on December 24.
In an attempt to build a formidable title threat in India's top 50-over competition, Gill's participation highlights a formidable Punjab lineup that also includes Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh.
Gill's absence from India's selection for the forthcoming T20 World Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand makes his presence all the more significant. Gill now sees the Vijay Hazare Trophy as a chance to start over, find his rhythm again, and remind selectors of his class in the white-ball format.
Punjab opens its campaign against Maharashtra on December 24 and will play all seven league matches in Jaipur. Their group includes Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa, and Mumbai.
Other major names like Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, and Harpreet Brar have been included in the Punjab side as well. Punjab's top wicket-taker from the 2024–25 season, Arshdeep Singh, will lead the bowling attack once more with assistance from Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat.
Gill, Abhishek, and Arshdeep's availability is still unknown. India will play three ODIs against New Zealand beginning on January 11 and five T20Is starting on January 21.
While Abhishek and Arshdeep are in the T20I team, Gill, who was just left off of India's T20I squad for the T20 World Cup and the New Zealand T20Is, will captain the ODI team. In the official squad announcement, Punjab did not designate a captain.
Punjab's Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 squad:
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Anmolpreet Singh, Uday Saharan, Naman Dhir, Salil Arora (wk), Sanvir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Raghu Sharma, Krish Bhagat, Gourav Choudhary, Sukhdeep Bajwa.
(ANI inputs)