Shubman Gill bowled for 1 by Ajay Mandal on Ranji return before New Zealand tour

Shubman Gill’s last first-class outing before India’s tour of New Zealand lasted five balls. Playing for Punjab against Chhattisgarh in the Ranji Trophy on Sunday, he was bowled by left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal for 1.

Mandal pitched the ball around middle and leg, Gill played for turn with a full face of the bat, and the ball went between bat and pad to hit middle stump. He had taken a single off his second ball. Punjab, who won the toss and batted at their home ground in New Chandigarh, slipped to 69 for 3.

The openers had given them a decent start. Vihaan Malhotra and Harnoor Singh added 55 before Mandal trapped Harnoor lbw for 20, and Malhotra went lbw for 40 soon after.

Captain Uday Saharan then took charge. Punjab went to lunch on 89 for 3 after 37 overs, with Saharan on 19 and Prabhsimran Singh on 8. Saharan reached his fifty off 68 balls early in the afternoon session, and Punjab were 143 for 3 in the 49th over. Umesh Yadav, who took five wickets in the first round, is in Punjab’s side.

Gill turned out for Punjab in this round before he leaves for New Zealand. He will captain India in the first three of the five one-day internationals, which start on 4 November, before handing over to Shreyas Iyer to prepare for the two Tests from 19 November.