Mid-Overs Woes and Fielding Lapses Cost India in Rajkot, Says Captain Shubman Gill

Rajkot: India suffered a 7-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the second ODI, leveling the three-match series at 1-1. Captain Shubman Gill pointed to India’s inability to take wickets in the middle overs and errors in fielding as the primary reasons behind the loss. He also urged the bowlers to adopt a more aggressive approach in crucial phases of the game.

Middle Overs Dry Spell
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gill said, “Not taking wickets in the middle overs was the biggest factor in our loss. When five fielders are inside the circle and you fail to get breakthroughs, defending the target becomes extremely difficult. Even if we had added 15-20 more runs to the scoreboard, winning without wickets in the middle overs would have been impossible.”

Bowlers Needed More Courage
Gill also commented on the way New Zealand batsmen, particularly Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, handled India’s spin attack. “Our bowlers bowled well in the first 10-15 overs when the ball was moving, but around overs 20-25, the pitch flattened, and we lost our momentum. At that stage, we needed to be a bit braver and take calculated risks, which we failed to do,” he said.

Fielding Mistakes a Concern
Fielding lapses have been a recurring issue for India in recent matches, and Rajkot was no exception. Gill expressed his concern, stating, “We dropped some chances today, just like in the previous game. This is an area where we must constantly improve, especially with this team. In this format, missed opportunities always push you toward defeat.”

Batting Insights
On the batting front, Gill emphasized the importance of a set batter lasting till the end on pitches like Rajkot’s. He noted that maintaining composure and building partnerships is key to chasing or defending targets in such conditions.