NEW DELHI: India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill's participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been clarified after he was named in Punjab's 18-man squad, having missed the first two matches due to a fitness issue.

Gill will turn out for Punjab in their fifth and sixth group-stage fixtures against Sikkim on January 3 and Goa on January 6, both to be played in Jaipur, Sportstar reported. He is expected to join the squad around December 29, when Punjab take on Uttarakhand.

"He will join the team in Jaipur around January 1 for those two games. While he is interested in playing the final group league fixture against Mumbai as well, it will all depend on the BCCI's scheduling for the camps ahead of the home series against New Zealand," a source told Sportstar.

Gill had earlier missed the ODI series against South Africa after suffering a neck injury during the Kolkata Test. His comeback was further delayed when he picked up another setback during the T20I series.

However, the India Test and ODI captain is now back in training and has resumed preparations, having been spotted working out at the PCA Stadium in Mohali - a positive sign ahead of his return to competitive cricket.

Gill, who was left out of India's T20 World Cup squad, now has the perfect opportunity to regain his form ahead of the New Zealand series starting January 11, after struggling to make an impact in white-ball cricket. The BCCI is expected to announce India's squad for the series on January 3 or 4.