/industry-wired/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/04/2024-12-04t130344212z-iw-new.png)
/industry-wired/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/04/2024-12-04t130332454z-iw-new.jpg)
/industry-wired/media/media_files/2026/01/20/selection-overhaul-aheadshubman-gills-cryptic-hint-after-indias-odi-series-loss-2026-01-20-17-07-20.jpg)
/industry-wired/media/member_avatars/2025/09/08/2025-09-08t141648584z-image-3-2025-09-08-19-46-50.jpg)
In the Aftermath of New Zealand’s Series Win, India Captain Shubman Gill Said that His Team was Left Lacking in all Departments
Shubman Gill’s remarks after India’s ODI series loss hint at multiple changes in team setup. It has fuelled speculation over selection calls, strategy shifts, and India’s future direction.
Captain Gill’s Remarks
"After the first match, coming here 1-1, the way we played is disappointing. There are areas we need to reflect on and improve. The way Virat is batting is always a plus. The way Harshit batted in this series-batting at No. 8 is not easy-was impressive. The fast bowlers also bowled well throughout the series," Gill said at the presentation ceremony.
This defeat was painful, as it marked the first time New Zealand won an ODI series in India. Reacting to the setback, India skipper Shubman Gill expressed his disappointment and also touched upon the team's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Will Nitish Kumar Reddy Get More Chances?
"Keeping the World Cup in mind, we want to give Nitish Kumar Reddy opportunities. We want to give him enough overs to see which combinations work for us and what kinds of deliveries suit him," he added.
Gill's comments about Nitish came a day after Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted, following the second ODI defeat, that the all-rounder was not "doing a heck of a lot" with the limited game time he had received.
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan lauded the performance of Nitish Kumar Reddy in the third ODI, pointing out his potential.
“Nitish Kumar Reddy was positive. He scored a fifty with the bat, and Reddy played instead of Washington Sundar in Rajkot. I felt he should have played from the first game. The way he batted, Reddy showed he had the potential to play big shots and could rotate strike. Reddy was also involved in good partnerships in both games. Reddy can play those big shots easily, whether it’s the pull shot or playing straight. The way Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled, he touched speeds of 135," Irfan Pathan was quoted as saying on his YouTube Channel.
India’s Defeat on Home Soil
India suffered a shocking 41-run defeat against New Zealand in the third and final ODI of the three-match series on Sunday in Indore. Asked to bat first, the Blackcaps posted a formidable total of 337/8 in 50 overs, with Daryl Mitchell once again scoring a century. In response, veteran batter Virat Kohli held India's innings together and notched up his 85th international ton, but received little support from the other end. As a result, India were bowled out for 296 and ended up losing the ODI series 1-2.
Reasons Behind India’s Defeat: Captain’s Assessment
Gill took some of the blame on his own shoulders before ensuring a bit gets passed around. “All of us, all the batsmen. I don’t think we have been able to convert starts. There are high-scoring matches in India and if the batsmen, especially two of them at the top, are not able to convert starts then we won’t be able to post the big scores,” Gill said in the press conference.
About Kuldeep’s lack of wickets, he added: “Sometimes, it happens. Kuldeep (Yadav), the way he has been bowling in the last couple of years: he has always been a strike bowler for us. It’s unfortunate that he was not able to take as many wickets this time. These are the reasons these kind of series’ help us grow.”
India created some unwanted records on home soil over the last year. Will the Champions Trophy-winning team come back in the upcoming T20 World Cup? Fans are eagerly waiting for a turnaround.