Shubman Gill made a strong statement during his return to the Ranji Trophy, scoring an impressive century in a tough situation that helped Punjab bounce back against Karnataka.

There were doubts about the 25-year-old batsman's red-ball cricket abilities after he struggled in the most recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, Gill responded to his detractors with an incredible century.

Punjab struggled once more against Karnataka's bowlers following a frustrating first innings in which they were dismissed for just 55 runs. Shubman Gill maintained his composure and advanced the innings despite the pressure. After a fierce battle, he reached his century off 159 balls, which featured three sixes and 14 boundaries.

Gill, who usually bats at number three for India in Test matches, batted at number one for Punjab in this game. It was difficult to get used to being number three after he had relinquished the opening position to Yashasvi Jaiswal during the West Indies tour last year. He was dropped from the Melbourne Test as a result of his dismal tour of Australia.

Gill, who led Punjab, was dismissed for just four runs in the first innings. Nevertheless, he recovered well in the second innings, keeping the innings steady while other batsmen struggled. Gill helped Punjab beyond 150 runs with a crucial 63-run partnership with tailender Mayank Markande for the seventh wicket.

In the recent round 6 of the Ranji Trophy, Shubman Gill stood out among the senior stars of the Indian team. While well-known players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma struggled to make an impact with the bat, Shubman's performance was impressive.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja showcased his exceptional bowling skills, taking an impressive 12 wickets for Saurashtra in a commanding victory over Delhi. His remarkable figures of 5/66 in the first innings and 7/38 in the second innings highlighted his talent and significant contribution to the team's success.

In the same match, Rishabh Pant, the star wicketkeeper-batter, could not make an impact for Delhi upon his return to the Ranji Trophy, scoring just 1 and 17 in both innings.