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India ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill has defended the team’s recent form in Test cricket that saw them suffer back-to-back series defeats.
Members of India ODI squad during a training session in Nagpur. (PTI Photo)
Shubman Gill thinks that India’s recent Australia tour that saw them suffer a 1-3 Test series defeat shouldn’t be taken as a benchmark to judge the current set of players citing how they have fared in the past tournaments. Top India batters including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Gill among others came under scrutiny for their poor returns during the tour.
“One series does not define the form of the whole team. There are a lot of players who, in the past, have performed consistently in a lot of series and tournaments,” Gill said in Nagpur on Tuesday.
He admitted that the players didn’t meet the expectations but claimed the series could have ended in a 2-2 draw had pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah not missed the final day of the tour due to back spasms.
“Definitely, we did not play as per our expectations in the Australian series, but still we played some good cricket. We were unfortunate not to have (Jasprit) Bumrah on the last day and we would have won the match and the series would have been a draw and this talk wouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“One match and one day doesn’t define us, we won there twice before and earlier won a World Cup and then reached the final of a World Cup, so we should keep all those things in mind,” he added.
Right before the defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India suffered a historic Test series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand at home.
India will next face England in a three-match ODI series starting Thursday which will also serve as a platform for the players to prepare for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India will be led by Rohit with Gill serving as his deputy.
India have been kept alongside Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh in Group B and kickstart their campaign from February 20.
- Location :
Nagpur, India, India
