IPL Stars Including Gill, Rohit, and Suryakumar Yadav Return to Domestic Cricket Ahead of New Zealand Series
Several high-profile Indian Premier League stars, including Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav, are set to participate in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) for their respective state teams. This move follows a directive from the BCCI encouraging contracted players to utilize breaks in the international schedule to play domestic cricket and maintain match fitness.
Shubman Gill, who is slated to captain India's ODI side against New Zealand, has been named in the Punjab squad alongside fellow IPL players Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh. Meanwhile, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma have confirmed their availability for Mumbai's fixtures in the 50-over tournament. Suryakumar and Shivam Dube are scheduled to play two matches in early January, while Rohit is confirmed for Mumbai's first two league games.
This increased participation by top-tier players in the VHT ensures they remain sharp ahead of the crucial white-ball series against New Zealand and the highly anticipated IPL 2026 season. The emphasis on domestic involvement reflects the selection committee's commitment to prioritizing consistent performance across all formats.
“I think we made it clear a year or a couple of years back that whenever players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. I mean, that’s the only way you’ll keep yourself sharp and playing cricket, if you’ve got a long enough break.”
Ajit Agarkar, Chairman of Selectors
- Player
- Shubman Gill
- Specialization
- Batter
- Team
- GT
- Analyze
- Analyze Performance
- Team
- Team Performance
Related Statistics
IPL 2025 Leading Run Scorers Leaders | Batting Rankings
Leading leading run scorers scorers in IPL 2025 (batting specialists only: batters/all-rounders/wicketkeepers)
| Rank | Player | Team | run-scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Gujarat Titans | 759 runs | |
#2 | Mumbai Indians | 717 runs | |
#3 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 657 runs | |
| #4 | Gujarat Titans | 650 runs | |
| #5 | Punjab Kings | 604 runs |
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“I think we made it clear a year or a couple of years back that whenever players are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. I mean, that’s the only way you’ll keep yourself sharp and playing cricket, if you’ve got a long enough break.”
Ajit Agarkar, Chairman of Selectors
- Player
- Shubman Gill
- Specialization
- Batter
- Team
- GT
- Analyze
- Analyze Performance
- Team
- Team Performance