Abhishek Sharma (Source:X)
The excitement for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 has reached its peak as only three teams remain in the tournament. After a thrilling quarter-final round and the first semi-final, all eyes now turn to the second semi-final, where Punjab will take on Saurashtra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru on Friday, 16th January 2026.
Punjab reached the semi-finals in impressive fashion, defeating Madhya Pradesh by a huge 183-run margin in their quarter-final clash.
Saurashtra, on the other hand, narrowly defeated Uttar Pradesh by 17 runs. In that match, chasing a challenging total of 311, Saurashtra reached 238 for 3 in 40.1 overs before rain halted play, giving them the victory.
Why is Abhishek Sharma not playing in Semi-final 2?
However, there was one significant talking point ahead of the semi-final 2: Will Abhishek Sharma be part of the Punjab playing XI?
Fans have been eagerly waiting to see the talented batter in action, especially after his strong performances in domestic cricket. But it is important to mention that Abhishek Sharma is not part of the XI.
The reason is simple: He is currently focusing on India’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.
Abhishek was also recently enjoying a lighter side of life. He celebrated the festival of Lohri with singer AP Dhillon in Chandigarh, where the two shared festive moments on social media.
Among the memorable moment was a bright green kite the duo held during their rooftop celebration.
Abhishek Sharma special practice for IND vs NZ T20Is
The India-New Zealand T20I series is set to begin on 21st January 2026, with the final match scheduled on 31st January at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Given the importance of the series and his place in the Indian squad, Abhishek Sharma has been preparing intensely for the upcoming matches.
He has been seen training under the guidance of his mentor, former India star Yuvraj Singh, focusing on batting practice and match readiness.
Punjab eyes victory despite Abhishek's absence
While Abhishek Sharma is missing, Punjab will still be a strong side under the leadership of Prabhsimran Singh.
The team also boasts experienced players like Anmolpreet Singh, who has been in sensational form in the tournament, scoring 453 runs in 8 innings at an average of 75.50. Other key players for Punjab include Naman Dhir and Nehal Wadhera.
Similarly, Saurashtra remains a tough opponent, known for its collective team strength rather than relying on individual superstars. Their top scorers in the tournament include captain Harvik Desai and Sammar Gajjar.
Talking about the match, Saurashtra won the toss and opted to bowl first against Punjab.
Punjab Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (c and wk), Harnoor Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, Mayank Markande, Krish Bhagat, Sukhdeep Bajwa, Gurnoor Brar
Saurashtra Playing XI: Harvik Desai (c and wk), Vishvaraj Jadeja, Prerak Mankad, Sammar Gajjar, Chirag Jani, Ruchit Ahir, Parswaraj Rana, Dharmendra Jadeja, Ankur Panwar, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya
