Shubman Gill’s Quiet Comeback: A Two-Ball Duck in the Ranji Spotlight

The ‘C’ ground at the Niranjan Shah Stadium complex had the atmosphere of a typical domestic cricket match: open-air setting, small dressing rooms, temporary areas for selectors and special guests, and a spectator count barely surpassing the number of people on the field.

In these humble surroundings, Shubman Gill, recently excluded from India’s T20 World Cup squad as the Test captain, was eager to utilize his playing time effectively and keep Punjab’s slim Ranji Trophy quarterfinal hopes afloat against Saurashtra. However, the day proved unfortunate for the elegant right-hander.

On a pitch designed for Saurashtra’s spin-dominant attack, Gill lost the toss. With the hosts dismissed for 172, the few spectators — mainly families of the Saurashtra players — anticipated challenging conditions for the visiting batsmen.

Gill, set to bat at his usual No. 4 position, had to wait as Punjab sent in the left-handed Nehal Wadhera at No. 3 to tackle the left-arm spinning trio. When Wadhera was dismissed by Parth Bhut, Gill made his way to the crease, practicing his drives, adjusting to the sunlight, and glancing skywards briefly before taking his position.

As he entered, Manan, the young son of Saurashtra batsman Arpit Vasavada, anticipated a “first-ball wicket.” Although Gill managed the first delivery safely, the following ball from Bhut skidded marginally, kept low, bypassed Gill’s forward defense, and hit his pad. Saurashtra’s appeal was unanimous, and umpire Vinod Seshan gave the decision.

Gill paused in disbelief, seemingly thinking the ball had nicked the inside edge before hitting the pad, but with no video coverage, the decision stood. His return to the pavilion was calm, without protest.

Completely in character, Gill remained composed. After the day’s play, he even took a photo with Manan, the enthusiastic mascot of the home team. Punjab now hopes that in a closely contested fourth-innings chase, their captain will have another chance to let his batting speak for itself.

Published on Jan 22, 2026