Shubman Gill misses crucial Duleep Trophy game ahead of Asia Cup

Even though the BCCI has been firm about its mandate—all available players must feature in domestic cricket—India’s young batting star Shubman Gill was notably absent from the season-opening Duleep Trophy clash between North Zone and East Zone. What raised eyebrows even more was the fact that Gill had been named captain of the North Zone squad. So, with the Asia Cup fast approaching, why did he skip what looked like a golden opportunity to get match-ready?

Turns out, Gill didn’t pull out by choice. He was reportedly down with an illness, which forced him to miss the opener. In his absence, Haryana batter Ankit Kumar stepped in as skipper, while Services’ Shubham Rohilla was drafted in as a replacement. The good news for fans is that Gill is expected to join the squad in Bengaluru later this week, before heading off to the UAE for the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9.

Interestingly, two other Asia Cup-bound players—Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana—did feature for North Zone, showing that Gill’s absence was indeed out of necessity, not preference.

Other top players who missed Duleep Trophy opener

The Central Zone was also dealt a blow when their appointed captain, Dhruv Jurel, was ruled out due to a groin niggle. In his place, Rajat Patidar took over the leadership duties. Despite Jurel’s absence, Central Zone still fielded a strong lineup, including international players like Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, and Kuldeep Yadav in their XI against North East Zone.

The East Zone wasn't spared either. Their skipper, Abhimanyu Easwaran, had to sit out due to fever, with Riyan Parag stepping in to lead. A surprising coincidence—or perhaps a worrying trend—three zone captains ruled out in the opening matchweek.

Meanwhile, Gill's recent form in the longer format speaks volumes. On his debut Test tour as India’s captain in England, he scored 754 runs in just five Tests, averaging a stunning 75.40, and led India to a 2-2 series draw.

The Duleep Trophy semi-finals are scheduled from September 4, with the final to be played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence starting September 11. All eyes will now be on how these squads shape up—especially with key names recovering just in time.

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