Losses in the T20Is won’t affect us: India ODI skipper Gill

Shubman Gill will have fond memories of Edgbaston. It was here last July that he led India to a massive 336-run victory over England in the second Test, marking his debut win as Test captain.

A year on, Gill, who scored 269 and 161 in that spectacular triumph, is back at the venue as the ODI skipper, this time trying to clear the thick clouds that have enveloped Indian cricket after six T20I losses to Ireland and England.

“I don’t think the defeats will affect us,” Gill said on Monday, ahead of the first ODI. “This is a different format, different team, and different goals. The atmosphere and the feelings are both different.”

Gill’s eyes are set on the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the three matches versus England are important in the lead-up to the marquee competition.

“The pitches here will be closer to the ones we will find in South Africa. So it is about finding the right combinations.

“We were a bit unfortunate that Nitish [Kumar] and Harshit [Rana] got injured. We wanted to play them in as many matches as we could before the World Cup so that they feel settled.

“But now we cannot play the 11 or 12 players we had decided before the series. So we are forced to make changes,” the 26-year-old added.

Gill, however, stated that the team doesn’t have concerning areas as such. “It is not an unsettled XI. But you do have to give chances to players to experience pressure before the World Cup.”

Amidst chatter that ODIs had lost relevance and that one of the ways to spice up the format was by reducing it to 40 overs, Gill batted for it to remain a 50-over game.

“What can make a difference is if we can bring back the triangular series. It’s fun to face two different teams in different venues. That will make the format more interesting to play and watch.”