Shubman Gill's Domestic Comeback in Vijay Hazare Trophy to Be Private Affair

Shubman Gill is set to make his return to domestic cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the match against Sikkim will be held without spectators due to security concerns. This marks Gill's first domestic appearance since his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad. Alongside him, Arshdeep Singh will also play for Punjab. The match will not be broadcasted, making it a low-key event despite its significance. Weather delays have affected their travel plans, but both players are expected to arrive soon. Discover more about this unique situation in Punjab's cricket journey.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 3, 2026, 10:06 IST

Shubman Gill's Return to Domestic Cricket

Shubman Gill, the captain of India's ODI and Test teams, is set to make his return to domestic cricket, but this event will take place away from the public eye. His upcoming match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab against Sikkim is scheduled for Saturday at the Jaipuria College ground, where spectators will not be allowed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated this restriction due to security issues and inadequate seating arrangements.

This match will be Gill's first appearance in domestic cricket since he was omitted from India's T20 World Cup squad. Alongside him, pacer Arshdeep Singh will also participate in Punjab's next two fixtures. Punjab is slated to compete against Sikkim on January 3 and Goa on January 6, with the latter match taking place at the KL Saini Stadium.

A source from the BCCI indicated that only students and staff from Jaipuria College will be allowed entry for the game against Sikkim. "Students and staff can enter the premises, but there will be stringent security measures in place, including private bouncers. No outsiders will be permitted within the college grounds," the source elaborated.

The scheduling of these matches was finalized well ahead of time. The source also mentioned that only the fixture involving Mumbai had to be relocated to the Sawai Man Singh Stadium from Anantam due to the anticipated turnout for Rohit Sharma's participation.

Similar to the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy matches featuring Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gill's match will not be available for television broadcast or online streaming. Consequently, fans will miss out on live coverage, rendering his return a quiet event despite its importance for Punjab's campaign.

Gill and Arshdeep Singh were expected to reach the venue by Friday evening; however, adverse weather conditions across northern India have delayed their travel plans. "Both Gill and Arshdeep were scheduled to arrive by evening, but the current weather conditions in North India have caused flight delays. Weather permitting, they should arrive by late night," the source confirmed.

Although the lack of fans and live coverage will keep the match low-profile, Punjab will gain from having two international players as they progress in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.