Shubman Gill with India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir forward of the primary ODI in opposition to England.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Shubman Gill can have fond recollections of Edgbaston. It was right here final July that he led India to an enormous 336-run victory over England within the second Check, marking his debut win as Check captain.
A yr on, Gill, who scored 269 and 161 in that spectacular triumph, is again on the venue because the ODI skipper, this time attempting to clear the thick clouds which have enveloped Indian cricket after six T20I losses to Eire and England.
“I don’t assume the defeats will have an effect on us,” Gill mentioned on Monday, forward of the primary ODI. “It is a totally different format, totally different group, and totally different targets. The ambiance and the emotions are each totally different.”
Gill’s eyes are set on the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the three matches versus England are necessary within the lead-up to the marquee competitors.
“The pitches right here will likely be nearer to those we are going to discover in South Africa. So it’s about discovering the best mixtures.
“We had been a bit unlucky that Nitish [Kumar] and Harshit [Rana] acquired injured. We wished to play them in as many matches as we might earlier than the World Cup in order that they really feel settled.
“However now we can not play the 11 or 12 gamers we had determined earlier than the collection. So we’re compelled to make adjustments,” the 26-year-old added.
Gill, nonetheless, acknowledged that the group doesn’t have regarding areas as such. “It’s not an unsettled XI. However you do have to provide possibilities to gamers to expertise stress earlier than the World Cup.”
Amidst chatter that ODIs had misplaced relevance and that one of many methods to boost the format was by lowering it to 40 overs, Gill batted for it to stay a 50-over recreation.
“What could make a distinction is that if we will carry again the triangular collection. It’s enjoyable to face two totally different groups in several venues. That can make the format extra attention-grabbing to play and watch.”
Revealed – July 13, 2026 08:59 pm IST
