Abhishek Sharma has been included in Punjab’s 16-man squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, giving the side an immediate boost ahead of their opening fixture against Maharashtra on December 24. The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) confirmed the squad on Monday, noting that Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh will link up with the team at a later stage.
Punjab have gone heavy on batting depth and allround options, assembling a line-up packed with power and versatility. Alongside Abhishek, the squad features aggressive batters and finishers such as Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Anmolpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Sanvir Singh, while Harpreet Brar adds experience and balance as a spin-bowling allrounder. The pace department will be spearheaded by Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat.
However, the availability of Abhishek, Gill and Arshdeep remains uncertain as India’s international commitments loom large. India are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand from January 11, followed by five T20Is starting January 21. Gill, despite being dropped from India’s recent T20I plans, is set to captain the ODI side, while Abhishek and Arshdeep are part of the T20I squad, potentially limiting their time in domestic colours.
Punjab enter the tournament keen to go one step further than last season, when they bowed out at the quarter-final stage. All seven of their league matches will be played in Jaipur, against a group that includes Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Mumbai. The league phase concludes on January 8, just three days before India’s first ODI, adding another layer of complexity to player availability.
Arshdeep was Punjab’s leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, underlining his importance to the side whenever he is free to play. Interestingly, Punjab have not yet named a captain in the official squad announcement, leaving that decision open as they balance leadership duties with international call-ups.
With a blend of youth, power-hitting and proven performers, Punjab look well-equipped to challenge strongly — provided their marquee names are available when it matters most.
