Photo via The Hindu

Ranji Trophy: Gill, Prabhsimran boost for Punjab against Chhattisgarh

Punjab’s batting lineup looks set to take center stage as they aim to overcome Chhattisgarh in the second round of the Ranji Trophy, beginning Sunday at the New PCA Stadium. India captain Shubman Gill returns after skipping the opening match, eager to regain form ahead of his upcoming tour to New Zealand.

His last Ranji appearance yielded just 14 runs, and his average of 30 in domestic first-class games since the BCCI’s Test regulars mandate suggests he’ll need to rebuild momentum quickly. Meanwhile, Prabhsimran Singh, fresh off his India-A commitments, adds depth to Punjab’s top order, which already showed resilience against Assam with three centuries from Vihaan Malhotra, Emanjot Singh Chahal, and Salil Arora securing a first-innings lead.

Chhattisgarh, however, faces an uphill battle after struggling to capitalize on a top-order collapse against Saurashtra, managing only one point from their opening game. Their captain, Anuj Tiwary, led a middle-order fightback, but the team’s recent imports, Sandeep Warrier and Dharmendra Jadeja, have yet to deliver on expectations.

The latter did claim a notable wicket—former teammate Ravindra Jadeja—though their overall impact remains unproven. Punjab’s bowling unit, which had earlier raised concerns, turned the tide in their last match by taking six wickets in two sessions on a flat track, signaling renewed confidence as they seek to assert dominance over their opponents.

Up nextCricket· 50m ago

India vs West Indies, 5th T20I LIVE SCORE: Naman, Tilak batting; IND 108/4