Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shubman Gill keeps Punjab in contest with brilliant fifty at Chinnaswamy

Star batter Shubman Gill is currently leading Punjab in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Karnataka, which is being played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After registering a paltry score in the first innings, where the entire team got bundled out for just 55 runs, the Punjab team again faced a collapse in the second innings, following a mammoth 420-run trail ahead of the start.

Having lost six wickets for just 84 runs, the Punjab captain continued to grind in his merry way and save themselves from an innings' defeat at Chinnaswamy. In the 46th over of the innings, Gill reached his half-century and marked a solid comeback to domestic cricket. His knock included seven fours and one maximum, and is batting alongside Mayank Markande currently, with the scorecard reading 110/6 as of writing.

The knock would give some confidence to Gill, who had not only departed for a lowly score earlier in the game, but had been facing a lacklustre in his form. His last half-century had come in November 2024, post which Gill had failed to put up a show in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 down under. As a result, getting good runs in Ranji Trophy would surely be an important half-century for the Punjab batter.

Gill's return to form also becomes crucial as India prepare for the upcoming three ODIs against England, followed by the all-important ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Furthermore, Gill has also been named as the vice-captain of the side for the above-mentioned assignments, and hence, he will be having an added sort of pressure to perform on the big stage.

Mumbai's Shardul Thakur delivers with the ball to counterpunch J&K bowlers

Speaking of other Ranji games, Mumbai, who are playing against Jammu & Kashmir, have set them a target of 205 runs to win, after Shardul Thakur emerged as hero with the bat in both the innings for the home side. After scoring 51 in the first innings, Thakur hit a magnificent century in the second to add hope for the Ajinkya Rahane-led side in the contest, being played at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, BKC, in Mumbai.