Shubman Gill Misses Vijay Hazare Trophy Match Due to Food Poisoning, Set to Return Soon

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture against Sikkim on January 3 after suffering from food poisoning. The match was played at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur, where Gill was expected to lead Punjab’s batting line-up in their opening games of the tournament.

According to team sources, Gill complained of discomfort earlier in the day and was promptly assessed by the medical staff. As a precautionary measure, the Punjab team management decided to rest the batter and exclude him from the playing XI. Officials clarified that the illness was minor in nature and that the decision was taken purely to avoid any risk of aggravation.

Gill was initially scheduled to feature in Punjab’s league matches on January 3 and January 6 against Sikkim and Goa respectively. However, his availability for the latter fixture will depend on medical clearance and recovery over the next few days. Team officials remain optimistic that he will return soon, with no long-term concerns flagged at this stage.

The development is not expected to impact Gill’s international commitments. The Indian captain is likely to be fit in time for the upcoming India vs New Zealand ODI series, which begins on January 11. Medical staff are continuing to monitor his condition closely, and early indications suggest he will resume training shortly.

Gill’s absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy comes amid heightened scrutiny surrounding his recent form in the shortest format of the game. The batter was notably excluded from India’s T20 World Cup squad announced on December 20, a decision that sparked widespread debate. Gill had returned to the T20I setup earlier in the year and was even named vice-captain during the Asia Cup, underlining the management’s faith in his leadership potential.

However, his performances in T20Is failed to meet expectations. Gill managed 291 runs across 15 matches at an average of 24.25, with a strike rate of 137.26, and did not register a single half-century during that period. His struggles prompted India to reshuffle their opening combinations, including breaking up the previously successful Sanju Samson–Abhishek Sharma partnership to accommodate Gill at the top of the order.

Despite the changes, the move did not yield the desired results. Samson was eventually pushed down the order and later dropped, as the team management continued to experiment in search of the right balance ahead of the global tournament.

Addressing the media after the T20 World Cup squad announcement, chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that Gill’s omission was not a reflection of his ability or long-term value to the team. Instead, he explained that the decision was driven by team combination requirements and the need for specific skill sets in the T20 format.

India subsequently recalled Ishan Kishan to the squad, rewarding his consistent domestic performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Kishan was named as Gill’s replacement for the T20 World Cup.

For now, the focus remains on Gill’s recovery, with Punjab and Indian team officials confident that the food poisoning episode is only a minor setback in an otherwise packed cricketing calendar.